Xabi Alonso hints at Liverpool U-turn

Tom Weber

Updated: 16 Apr 2024 09:56 BST
4 min read

Xabi Alonso, Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool — © IMAGO

Xabi Alonso has admitted that his future may not be as clear as previously thought.

A few weeks ago, the Bayer Leverkusen boss burst the managerial market wide open by announcing that he would be staying with the Werkself for at least another season. Up to that point, Alonso had been the top target of Liverpool and Bayern Munich and many believed that his summer exit was a foregone conclusion.

Article continues under the video

The Basque, however, announced that he would stay put and achieved the historic feat of delivering Bayer 04's first-ever Bundesliga title at the weekend. But during the championship celebrations in the wake of his side's 5-0 victory over a Naby Keita-less Werder Bremen, Alonso admitted that he is not entirely sure what the future holds.

“When I feel that the team is behind me, the feeling that they want to believe, it’s much easier. That was my great enjoyment, that I had the feeling that the team was really committed, and once you have that it’s much easier. I don’t know what it will mean for the future, but at the moment it feels pretty great.”

Alonso U-turn?

Despite this, it is unlikely that Alonso will suddenly leave Leverkusen this summer. Liverpool have already turned their attention to Ruben Amorim, while Bayern Munich are working on re-hiring Julian Nagelsmann.

It is not clear whether Alonso will eventually end up at Anfield or the Allianz Arena at some point further down the line, but Bayer Leverkusen CEO Fernando Carro is convinced that he will one day be in the dugout at Real Madrid.

"I have no doubt that Xabi Alonso will coach Real Madrid at some point," Carro told CadenaSER. "What I am not clear about is when, but that he will end up at Real Madrid I have no doubt, as it is also possible that he trains Liverpool or Bayern."

The CEO also revealed that Leverkusen have only "committed to talking if offers arrive from teams for which he has played," confirming that there is a kind of gentlemen's agreement that allows Alonso to leave for one of his former sides.