Bayer Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso will leave the club at the end of the season, the Spaniard confirmed on Friday. Alonso had a contract until 2026 but the club said they had granted his wish to terminate his deal at the end of the season."We can let you know that this week the club and I, have agreed that these two games are going to be my last two games as Bayer Leverkusen coach," Alonso told reporters.
Former Liverpool, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich midfielder Alonso took charge of Leverkusen in October 2022 and guided them to a historic double last season. Not only did his team lift their first Bundesliga title undefeated but they also reached the Europa League final.
Multiple reports claimed that the 44-year-old World Cup winner is heading to take over the reins of Real Madrid from Carlo Ancelotti. The veteran Italian is finishing his exit formalities at the Santiago Bernabeu before becoming the new head coach of the Brazil national team.
As Madridistas witness an iconic moment of another former player making a comeback in the coach's role, here are five latest updates on the "Xabi to Madrid" saga:
1. When asked by the German media on Friday about his next destination, Alsonso said, "It's not the moment to talk too much about the future because now that we know, we want to have a proper farewell on Sunday here for some players, for myself."
2. Despite earlier reports claiming talks between Carlo and the Brazil Football Federation collapsing, noted journalist Fabrizio Romano said that the offer was still on the table for the 65-year-old. The South American team's football body has come around and is "waiting for Ancelotti to sign", Fabrizio claimed. The verbal agreement between the two parties will keep "Don" Carlo at Rio de Janeiro until FIFA World Cup 2026.
3. Carlo Ancelotti will proceed with exit formalities at Madrid after the crucial La Liga El Clasico on May 11, Sunday. Needless to say Real Madrid is planning an epic farewell for their legendary gaffer. "No issues on extra-season salary as Ancelotti never created any problems on that. The Italian coach will get a huge farewell as legend..." Fabrizio Romano said in another post on X.
4. Real Madrid have already prepared Xabi Alonso's contract and Leverkusen were fully cooperative. According to reports, Bayer Leverkusen were let know about his wish to be Real Madrid's coach one day as a crucial condition to accept a new contract with the Bundesliga side.
5. Hinting that Florian Wirtz is not Bayern Munich property yet, Alonso told the press on Friday that the German attacker never told him that he wanted to join the Bavarians. "Wirtz didn’t tell me that he only wants to go to Bayern… this is not my information,” he reportedly said.