Xabi Alonso, head coach of Bayer Leverkusen, has refused to address ongoing speculation regarding a potential summer move to Real Madrid. The rumors have intensified following Madrid’s heavy loss to Arsenal in the Champions League quarter-finals, a defeat that could signal the end of Carlo Ancelotti’s tenure. Alonso is reportedly the preferred candidate to take over the role at the Spanish club.
Alonso, who spent five years at Real Madrid as a player and won both the Champions League and La Liga, has become a key figure in Leverkusen’s resurgence. Since taking over as head coach in October 2022, he led the team to an undefeated league and cup double last season, marking the club’s first-ever Bundesliga title.
Ahead of Leverkusen’s Sunday match against St Pauli, Alonso avoided confirming or denying the rumors. “It’s not a good time to discuss the future,” he stated, emphasizing the importance of the current season. Leverkusen trails Bayern Munich by six points with just five games left to play.
The 43-year-old manager added that while he understood the speculation, his focus remained on the present. “What’s more important to me is what’s happening right now,” Alonso said, further distancing himself from the growing rumors.
Leverkusen’s CEO, Fernando Carro, has expressed confidence that Alonso will continue with the club next season, stating that plans are already in place for the upcoming season, including preseason preparations and squad management.
Alonso faced similar speculation last year when rumors linked him to Real Madrid, Liverpool, and Bayern Munich, but he shut down the discussions with a press conference, insisting that his focus was on winning the league title. Although Leverkusen has had a strong season, the club is on track to finish without any silverware, with the Bundesliga title slipping away and early exits in both the Champions League and German Cup.
