Xabi Alonso’s time at Bayer 04 Leverkusen is coming to an end. According to a Spanish media report, the Basque player has agreed to a contract with Real Madrid until 2028.
Spanish sports newspaper Marca, which is usually well informed on matters relating to Real Madrid, reported on Friday morning that the club has agreed a contract with the 43-year-old Bayer 04 Leverkusen coach until 2028. Xabi Alonso will therefore succeed Carlo Ancelotti, with whom the club is said to have already agreed to terminate his contract following their Champions League exit against Arsenal. Ancelotti is expected to take over the Brazilian national team after leaving Real Madrid. Only details remain to be clarified in negotiations with the association.
There had been frequent speculation about a move by the Leverkusen championship-winning coach in recent weeks and months, but Xabi Alonso had always evaded questions about his future and avoided making any commitment to Bayer 04. The Spaniard still has a contract in Leverkusen until 2026, but can leave the club early thanks to a “gentlemen’s agreement” with the club’s management. Leverkusen would still receive a transfer fee from the Spaniards, which is said to be in the low double-digit million range.
At 2 p.m., Xabi Alonso will face the press at the matchday conference ahead of the Bundesliga game against Borussia Dortmund. It could be the last home game for the most successful coach in the club’s history. However, it is unlikely that he will receive the grand farewell that his achievements for the club deserve. An official confirmation of the report is not expected on Friday. According to Marca, Ancelotti will be officially bid farewell during the last league game on May 25. The opponent will be Real Sociedad San Sebastian – Xabi Alonso’s home club, of all places.
Xabi Alonso to take over after the Club World Cup
According to the report, neither Xabi Alonso nor Ancelotti will be at Real for the Club World Cup in June and July. An interim solution is being sought for this period. Santiago Solari, Real’s director of professional football, is considered the favorite.
According to the report, Xabi Alonso will be joined in Madrid by his two assistant coaches, Sebastian Parrilla and Alberto Encinas, although the newspaper mistakenly refers to Encinas as an athletic trainer. It is therefore unclear whether this refers to Encinas or Leverkusen’s actual athletic trainer, Ismael Camenforte. Real’s current goalkeeping coach Luis Llopis, on the other hand, is expected to remain with the Royal Club’s new staff—Xabi Alonso knows him from his time in San Sebastian.
