Real Madrid likely to launch move for Xabi Alonso next summer; Bayer Leverkusen want 47-year-old Los Blancos legend to replace him: Reports
Real Madrid are reportedly looking to bring in Bayer Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso next summer. The Spaniard has been at the helm at BayArena since October 2022.
Alonso is coming off a historic first full season at the Bundesliga club as Leverkusen became the first team to win the German top flight without losing a game. They also won the DFB-Pokal, but their hopes of an unbeaten season were dashed by Atalanta, who won 3-0 in the UEFA Europa League final.
Despite speculation of his departure this summer, Alonso pledged his immediate future to Leverkusen, signing an extension till 2026. Meanwhile, Carlo Ancelotti has been the Los Blancos boss since the summer of 2021 and recently extended his stay till 2026.
Nevertheless, there's speculation that the legendary Italian could leave the club next summer. In such an eventuality - as per SportBild (via Madrid Xtra) - Los Blancos have earmarked their former midfielder Alonso to take over.
SportBild (via Madrid Xtra) has also reported that Leverkusen could make a move for Madrid legend Raul in case Alonso moves to the Santiago Bernabeu. Raul, 47, is currently managing Real Madrid Castilla.
While Los Blancos are unbeaten this season, Bayer Leverkusen suffered an early setback in their Bundesliga title defence, losing a league game for the first time in more than a year, on matchday two.
How did Bayer Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso fare as a player at Real Madrid?
Xabi Alonso was an accomplished midfielder of his generation, enjoying successful spells at top clubs like Liverpool, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich before delving into management.
Since arriving from Liverpool in the summer of 2009, the former Spain international spent a fruitful five-year spell at the Santiago Bernabeu before moving to Bayern Munich.
In 236 games across competitions, Alonso contributed six goals and 31 assists, with three of those strikes - and five assists - coming in his very first season in the Spanish capital.
Alonso played a key role in Los Blancos' much-awaited La Decima triumph in the UEFA Champions League in what turned out to be his final season at the club in 2023-14. In nine games, the Spaniard registered an assist as Madrid ended a 10-year title drought in European club football's blue riband competition.
The current Bayer Leverkusen boss also won the 2011-12 La Liga title with Los Blancos and four other titles.