Alonso, who enjoyed a successful playing career with Real Madrid from 2009 to 2014, acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding the Real Madrid coaching situation but emphasized his respect for the ongoing processes at other clubs. "I respect what happens in other clubs," Alonso stated. "It’s not a situation that I need to talk about. I know that they’re at a stage in the season in which they’re still fighting for the championship, and we also have our goals. The season isn’t over, so we must wait."
The speculation surrounding Alonso's potential move to Real Madrid has intensified due to the uncertain future of current manager Carlo Ancelotti. While Ancelotti's contract with the Spanish giants extends for another season, he has been heavily linked with the coaching position for the Brazilian national team following a somewhat disappointing season for Real Madrid. The club was recently eliminated from the Champions League quarterfinals by Arsenal, suffered a Copa del Rey final defeat to arch-rivals Barcelona, and currently trails Barcelona by four points in La Liga with only five matches remaining. The two Spanish powerhouses are scheduled to face each other again on May 11th.
Ancelotti has publicly stated his intention to remain at Real Madrid for as long as club president Florentino Pérez desires his services. However, it is widely believed that the outcome of Real Madrid's remaining league games will significantly influence this decision.
Meanwhile, Xabi Alonso has garnered considerable praise for his impressive tenure at Bayer Leverkusen. Taking over the club when they were in the Bundesliga relegation zone in October 2022, he orchestrated a remarkable turnaround, leading the team to an unprecedented German league and cup double last season, achieving the distinction of being the first team in Bundesliga history to complete a season without a single defeat.
While a slight dip in performance levels was perhaps anticipated this season, with Leverkusen surprisingly exiting the German Cup in the semifinals against a third-division team and Bayern Munich poised to clinch the league title on Saturday, Alonso's stock as a highly promising young coach remains high.
Bayer Leverkusen's management, including CEO Fernando Carro and sporting director Simon Rolfes, are reportedly keen for Alonso to see out his contract, which runs through next season. However, the club is also proactively considering potential replacements, with reports suggesting that former Manchester United and Ajax coach Erik ten Hag has emerged as a leading candidate. Former Barcelona coach Xavi has also been linked with the Leverkusen job.
When questioned about potential successors, Alonso stated, "We haven’t spoken about that. We speak, Fernando is there. We spoke about a few issues in the morning and there’s always a good connection and communication. We’re all informed about everything and there’s never a problem for us. We’re staying calm. We’ll wait until the right moment until there’s something to decide."
Alonso reiterated his focus on his current role, adding, "I’m staying calm. I know you’re expected to have something new at every press conference, but that’s not my job. It’s to prepare the team for every game. That’s all I can say."
Bayer Leverkusen is scheduled to play their next Bundesliga match away against Freiburg on Sunday. The football world continues to await developments regarding the Real Madrid coaching situation and the potential return of Xabi Alonso to the Santiago Bernabéu.