“It’s too early”
Hot Real Madrid rumors leave Alonso cold
September 30, 2023, 7:40 a.m
When Real Madrid comes calling, it’s tempting for many in football to rush to Spain straight away. Only Xabi Alonso, who is considered the future coach of the Royals, apparently feels differently. The coach of Bayer Leverkusen weighs it down, and the Bundesliga club is also relaxed.
“Don Carlo” has already given his blessing for a royal mission, and the Spanish rumor mill is even talking about the “chosen one” – but Xabi Alonso is completely ignoring all of this. “It’s too early. We’re in September, that’s not an issue,” said the Spaniard, whose success with Bayer Leverkusen has apparently aroused interest at Real Madrid.
The world club is said to have already chosen Alonso as the heir to outgoing star coach Carlo Ancelotti for the new season, as Radio Marca reported recently. But “El elegido” doesn’t want to let this get to them. “We started the season well. We want to stay focused in all games and I have to be first,” said Alonso.
Alonso had played at Real under Ancelotti and the Italian was already raving about his possible successor. “He knows football very well at a high level, he’s doing very well at Bayer Leverkusen because he can read football well, he has the ability to do that,” praised the 64-year-old. While Ancelotti will probably become Brazil’s national coach after his contract with Real ends in the summer, he has a clear wish for the Madrilenians. He hopes that Alonso, like Real legends Raul and Alvaro Arbeloa, “can one day become Real Madrid coach.” The Spanish radio station Cadena Ser also brought Roberto De Zerbi, coach at Premier League club Brighton & Hove Albion, into the conversation. Alonso is the clear favorite of the Real bosses.
Apparently there is an agreement when the world club asks
In fact, Alonso’s CV reads like it was made for the job. World and European champion with Spain, 236 appearances for Real including winning the 2014 Champions League under Ancelotti, already a strategist and leader on the pitch as a player. And as a coach, the 41-year-old is also preparing to continue this success story.
The Basque took over Bayer Leverkusen in 17th place last October, transformed the Werkself from relegation candidates into a top team and led them to the semi-finals of the Europa League. This development continues seamlessly in the current season, ahead of the duel with bottom team FSV Mainz 05 on Saturday (3.30 p.m./Sky and in the ntv.de live ticker) Leverkusen is on a par with league leaders Bayern Munich – and is seen by many experts as a serious challenger to the record champions.
Although Alonso still has a long-term contract with the Rhinelanders, he only extended it by two years until June 2026 at the beginning of August. However, “Sport Bild” reported an agreement that no obstacles should be put in the way of the Spaniard when asked by a world club like Real Madrid.
We are aware that Alonso “will arouse the desires of other clubs if we are successful,” said Leverkusen club boss Fernando Carro recently in the “Sport Bild”, but emphasized: “If he continues to feel so comfortable with us, and if we get along with him In order for him to feel comfortable, he first has to find a club where he says: I want to go there.” The old love Real Madrid could definitely be such a club.