Real Madrid deal done? Leverkusen boss confirms Alonso agreement

Tom Weber

Updated: 21 Apr 2025 10:44 CDT
4 min read

Carlo Ancelotti, Xabi Alonso, Real Madrid — © IMAGO

Bayer Leverkusen CEO Fernando Carro has confirmed that Xabi Alonso will be allowed to join Real Madrid this summer.

The Basque tactician is Los Blancos' top target to replace legendary manager Carlo Ancelotti. It has been a disappointing season, and all the signs are pointing toward a separation at some point this summer.

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The exact date of Ancelotti's departure is not yet known. Last week, Sky Sports claimed that Ancelotti had already decided that he would step down after the Copa del Rey final against Barcelona at the weekend.

The Athletic later confirmed that Ancelotti was indeed planning to leave the club and take over the Brazilian national team, although the outlet refused to set a specific date.

According to Relevo, this is due to the Club World Cup complicating the summer. Should Real Madrid lose the final this weekend, Ancelotti could actually be sacked. If they win, he could remain in charge for the Club World Cup, unless he decides to step down beforehand.

Leverkusen boss confirms Alonso agreement

Regardless of the date of Ancelotti's departure, it is clear that Alonso will be in the Los Blancos dugout this summer, unless he makes the shock decision to stay at Leverkusen.

However, this seems unlikely as he has so far refrained from making any statements that could be interpreted as a clear commitment to the Bundesliga club.

Indeed, Leverkusen CEO Fernando Carro, incidentally a passionate Real Madrid supporter, has now confirmed that the German side will not stand in Alonso's way should he express a desire to take the Blancos job.

"A decision has to be made in the next three or four weeks; we can't wait until the end of the season," Carro told Relevo at the Laureus Awards in Madrid.

"We'll know before the end of the season. If another club were interested and he wanted to leave, we would have to talk about it. We can speculate a lot, but at the moment, there's nothing.

"We have a very good relationship with Real Madrid. There is a fluid relationship between two clubs that respect each other. We have a gentleman's agreement: If a team he played for comes to us, we will sit down and talk and not put any obstacles in his way."

Carro also spoke to Sky Germany at the ceremony and did not seem overly confident that Alonso would stay. Asked to share his personal feelings on the matter, Carro said that the chances of the Spaniard remaining were "50-50."