Xabi Alonso speaking on mic
Xabi Alonso continues to be linked with Real Madrid
As we've seen with the Trent Alexander-Arnold transfer saga, Real Madrid often get what they want. Sometimes it will take a little longer than they might hope, but the club may see those instances as little more than bumps along the road.
Los Blancos have been very direct in building their squad for the next generation, devising a succession plan for their older stars such as Toni Kroos and Luka Modric. One of the next challenges will be a new manager, and there's a feeling from the outside that Xabi Alonso is their man.
Alonso was initially among the leading candidates for the Liverpool job after Jurgen Klopp announced he was stepping away from the role. Instead, though, he opted to stay with Bayer Leverkusen and lead them into a Champions League campaign - one which ended in the round of 16 at the hands of Bayern Munich.
During the international break, though, there has been speculation in Spain that he's now ready to jump ship for the Bernabeu. There had been suggestions he would make a comment about his plans for next season once he returned, but his response has been what some might consider to be a whole lot of nothing.
“I have not taken any decisions," Alonso said, per Football Espana. "It was a good break, we needed it. It was a different situation compared to last year.
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"There was something to decide, and now there isn’t. That’s the difference. I was in Spain last week, yes, but I haven’t spoken to anyone.
“There’s no deadline. My thoughts are the same. I remain focused on this season, I’ve already said that the focus of our players and myself is on what we have. We’re in a key phase. We don’t want to speculate about anything beyond football.”
Xabi Alonso during Stuttgart vs Leverkusen
Alonso's Bayer Leverkusen sit six points behind Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich
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Image:
AFP via Getty Images)
Alonso is right that there isn't something to decide in the same way as there was in 2024, but that situation might be a temporary one. Madrid are reluctant to make their own decision on the future of Carlo Ancelotti until the summer, and there are plenty of variables there too.
Ancelotti's first Real Madrid spell came to an end in 2015, after a second-place finish in La Liga - albeit one where they scored an astonishing 118 goals - and a run to the semi-finals of the Champions League. Three more points would have clinched the title, while they were on course for the Champions League final until Alvaro Morata netted for Juve at the Bernabeu.
Carlo Ancelotti during Villarreal vs Real Madrid
Carlo Ancelotti's Real Madrid future remains uncertain
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Image:
Getty Images)
Those fine margins could be at play once more this season. At the time of writing, Ancelotti's team are behind Barcelona in the league on goal difference - albeit having played a game more - and were a penalty shootout away from dropping out of Europe in the round of 16.
If those fine margins end up going in Los Blancos' favour between now and May, they may well feel the optics of dismissing Ancelotti aren't quite right. And why would Alonso outwardly tout himself for the job if a position could arise where there's no job going.
Alonso won the Champions League with Real Madrid and Liverpool, but opted against taking over at Anfield (
Image:
Marc Atkins/Mark Leech/Getty Images)
Alonso is, and always appears to have been, as smart a decision-maker in management as he was during his playing days. He opted to continue his development with Real Sociedad's B team rather than jumping into a top-flight job - with Borussia Monchengladbach the potential suitors at the time - and recognised he would be able to bide his time for another year or more at the BayArena.
There is still plenty of credit in the bank from the 2023-24 campaign, a season where Atalanta were the only team to beat Leverkusen in league, cup or European competition. The climb from 17th to 6th the previous season marked him out as one to watch, and the domestic double only accentuated that.
Alonso won a league and cup double with Leverkusen last season (
Image:
Getty Images) Don't Miss
This season, despite looking set to miss out on back-to-back league titles, he has shown last season's achievements were no fluke. He has also overseen a Champions League campaign including wins over both Milan sides, an impressive achievement even if there will be some disappointment with how things ended in the knockout stages.
He is currently working with a relatively settled squad, free of the ego management that comes with managing a club of Real Madrid's size and stature. And yet he is very much their man if they do decide this summer is the time to roll the dice.
With that in mind, why would a manager in Alonso's position say anything different? Why would he leave himself open to eating his words when under no pressure to do so.
If he thought his every word will get closely scrutinised now, wait until he's at the Bernabeu. If he gets his way, it does feel like when rather than if, but there's no need to add any extra pressure right now when - if all goes to plan - there will be plenty of the good kind of pressure at some point in the future.
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