In the short period that Xabi Alonso was at Real Madrid last year, he went through everyone who had a connection to the club at one time or another and who knew the culture of the club. – In fact, last summer he had Arsenal captain Martin Ødegaard, who Real Madrid first loaned out and then sold forward years ago, on their possibly list.
The recent Premier League winner is not relevant, but another one that Real Madrid sold three years ago for 4 million euros was on Xabi Alonso’s lists is more than relevant.
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Now as Chelsea manager, he at least has the money to buy everything he wants, and the opportunity on the table is cheap.
Chelsea can sign defensive midfielder Antonio Blanco for just €10 million.
Antonio Blanco is back in the European spotlight after a season marked by great maturity at Alavés. The midfielder from Córdoba, who came up through Reals Madrid’s youth ranks, has become the quiet leader of the team from Vitoria. His performances have already sparked significant activity in the transfer market.
Now Chelsea appears to be the most determined club to pull off a coup. Xabi Alonso, the new coach of the London club, has touted the Spaniard as an ideal piece to build up the midfield at Stamford Bridge.
Antonio Blanco consolidates himself in Mendizorroza
Antonio Blanco’s development at Alavés has been one of the most positive stories for the club in recent years. After leaving Real Madrid in search of more playing time, the midfielder found in Vitoria the perfect environment to grow, compete and take on real responsibilities.
At Alavés, he has gone from being a promising player to becoming indispensable. His tactical understanding, ability to balance the team, and ease of organization from the bottom of the pitch have made him the undisputed boss in midfield.
Blanco is not a player who makes headlines with spectacular detail, but rather someone who characterizes matches with his enormous influence. He offers himself, cleans up the game and gives meaning to the team’s movements. His football is better understood through continuity than through blistering individual performances – something coaches who seek structure and reliability value very highly.
At 25, he is at an ideal time to take the next step. He has gained experience in La Liga, knows the demands of Spanish football and has shown that he can lead the team from one of the most critical positions on the pitch.
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Alavés won’t let him go – but the market is moving
Alavés is not eager to let him go. The club considers Blanco a piece in the very top cupboard, and his contract that runs until 2027 gives them some control. However, the market is starting to move, and the interest from a giant like Chelsea could change everything.
Xabi Alonso wants him at Chelsea
Xabi Alonso’s arrival at Chelsea marks a new phase at Stamford Bridge. The Basque coach will be given the authority to reorganize a squad that, after several uneven seasons, needs balance, identity and a far clearer football philosophy.
In this context, Antonio Blanco fits like a glove. Xabi himself knows the value of midfielders who understand the game through positioning, passing and tactical intelligence – he himself was one of the great specialists in this area as a player.
Blanco can deliver just that. He will not come to Chelsea as a media star, but as a structural piece. A player who can create order in midfield, shield the centre-backs and give the more creative forces the freedom to unfold.
Chelsea have amassed a lot of talent in recent years, but haven’t always found the balance. Xabi wants to build a more recognizable squad, and he needs tactically reliable players who are willing to take on specific roles.
The Premier League would be a significant step for Antonio Blanco, but also an opportunity that is hard to pass up. Competing in England, under the guidance of a coach who truly values his profile, could be the step he needs to take himself into a whole new dimension.
A transition at a minimal cost
The number being discussed makes the move an obvious possibility. Talking about around €10 million for a midfielder of Blanco’s age – with his experience and achievements – seems like an exceptionally low price by today’s market standards.
For Chelsea, it would have been a low-risk financial deal. The club has spent huge sums of money in recent years, but now needs to be more precise. Signing cheaply, with good criteria and based on the coach’s real needs, could be the key in this new phase.
For Alavés, on the other hand, the decision is far more complex. Selling the team’s leader for such a low amount would mean losing a fundamental piece. At the same time, it will give them the opportunity to bring in a significant sum for a player who came from Real Madrid, and whose long-term contract future is not completely secured.
Real Madrid are watching – but Chelsea are leading the way
Real Madrid are also watching behind the scenes. They had reserved mechanisms on the player when he left the club, and his development has not gone unnoticed in Chamartín. Nevertheless, it is Chelsea who now appear to be the most determined club.
Antonio Blanco has earned this opportunity through daily hard work and perseverance. Xabi Alonso wants him, Chelsea are preparing, and Alavés knows that the weeks ahead will be crucial. If the deal is really about €10 million, Stamford Bridge could secure one of the very best purchases of the summer.
