REVEALED: The insane fee Real Madrid have to pay to appoint Xabi Alonso

Tom Weber

Updated: 19 Apr 2025 12:08 CDT
4 min read

Carlo Ancelotti, Xabi Alonso, Real Madrid — © IMAGO

Real Madrid will have to pay up to €20 million to appoint Xabi Alonso this summer, according to German media.

Los Blancos are gearing up for a seismic summer that will likely see them part ways with legendary manager Carlo Ancelotti. In fact, his departure could come even sooner.

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Earlier this week, Sky Sports claimed that Ancelotti has already decided to throw in the towel after the Copa del Rey final on April 26, despite the fact that Real Madrid would still have to play five LaLiga matches after the clash with Clasico rivals Barcelona.

It comes after Real Madrid were dumped out of the Champions League by Arsenal in humiliating fashion while also relinquishing their lead at the summit of LaLiga in recent weeks.

Whatever the timing of his departure, it seems inevitable that the Italian will leave Real Madrid at some point in the next few weeks, with Fabrizio Romano recently confirming that there is 'big tension' at the club following their Champions League disaster.

Alonso to cost a pretty penny

The favoured replacement of Real Madrid president Florentino Perez is former player and current Bayer Leverkusen head coach Xabi Alonso. It is thought that the Basque would jump at the chance to manage Los Blancos.

Prior to Real Madrid's European exit, Leverkusen were confident that they would be able to keep Alonso for another season. CEO Fernando Carro, a well-known Blancos supporter, has admitted that the Bundesliga side would have preferred for the LaLiga giants to advance past Arsenal.

Unfortunately for Bayer, they didn't and the fact of the matter now is that Real Madrid are actively courting Alonso. Like Ancelotti, the 43-year-old has a contract until 2026.

This means that Real Madrid will not only have to pay Ancelotti a compensation fee if they sack him, but they will also have to buy Alonso out of his contract, and this will be a pricey affair.

According to Sky Germany, Leverkusen will demand a fee in the region of €15m-€20m, which would make Alonso one of the most expensive coaches in the history of football.

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