Surprise Xabi Alonso twist SHOCKS Real Madrid

Tom Weber

Updated: 25 Mar 2025 06:36 CDT
4 min read

Carlo Ancelotti, Xabi Alonso, Real Madrid — © IMAGO

Xabi Alonso is expected to stay at Bayer Leverkusen for another season, according to German media.

The Spanish tactician has emerged as one of European football's biggest coaching prospects over the past 18 months. Alonso is only in his second full season as a senior coach, yet he already has a historic domestic double on his CV.

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Alonso led Leverkusen to Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal glory last season. The current season hasn't quite been as smooth sailing, but Leverkusen look a good bet to successfully defend their Pokal.

Last year, Alonso turned down the likes of Bayern and Liverpool to continue at Leverkusen for another season, with the expectation being that he would leave in 2025.

Real Madrid had a difficult start to the current campaign and emerged as clear favourites to land Alonso. President Florentino Perez is said to be convinced that the former Los Blancos midfielder would be the club's ideal replacement for Carlo Ancelotti.

Alonso to stay at Leverkusen

However, results have stabilised for Real Madrid in recent months, with the capital club now level on points with Barcelona at the summit of LaLiga and into the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

Ancelotti, who is under contract until 2026, is seemingly no longer under threat of getting the boot at the end of the season and he has so far shown indication that he is planning to leave the club this summer.

This has changed the situation for Alonso and Sky Germany now reports that the current 'vibes' point towards the 43-year-old staying at Leverkusen for another season.

Alonso is said to be looking for a new house in nearby Dusseldorf and generally feels very settled in the Rhineland area of Germany. Additionally, with Ancelotti likely staying at Real, there are no attractive managerial vacancies that would interest the Basque.

Alonso could publically communicate his final decision as early as Thursday - as he did last year - when he faces the media for his next Leverkusen press conference.

Like Ancelotti, Alonso is under contract until 2026, but some reports have suggested that Leverkusen could look to offer him an extension so that they won't lose him for free when Real Madrid come calling next year.