Bayer Leverkusen’s Xabi Alonso has next club in mind beyond 2024

Plenty of people have put two and two together and come out with Real Madrid, after Xabi Alonso turned down offers from Liverpool and Bayern Munich to fulfil his contract with Bayer Leverkusen. That deal ends in 2025, and many expect him to join Los Blancos thereafter.

As per Relevo, that was the talk in the corridors of the AVIVA Stadium in Dublin, as Leverkusen took on Atalanta in the Europa League final. Those at the German club expect Alonso to head to the Santiago Bernabeu next summer. That is their plan, and they consider him the ideal coach to progress a talented young squad.

There is one potential obstacle – Carlo Ancelotti. The Italian surpassed even Real Madrid’s expectations this season, and extended Ancelotti’s contract until 2026. If Ancelotti were to repeat similar work next season, then they would make Alonso wait another year, rather than sacking a successful manager in Ancelotti.

Certainly it is impossible to put a caveat against Alonso’s management so far. The rise from second-bottom to top of the Bundesliga in less than two seasons is remarkable, and while die Werkself were denied an unbeaten season against Atalanta, few will reproach him for that. Ancelotti’s staying power has been a surprise though, and with Kylian Mbappe arriving, they will start as strong favourites for the Champions League and La Liga.