Xabi Alonso has emerged as one of the hottest prospects in the managerial market recently following his excellent stint at Bayer Leverkusen this season.
Although Die Werkself are not yet in contention for the top four spots in the Bundesliga so far, Alonso has earned many plaudits for managing the team well and establishing an identity within the Leverkusen side.
That has led to links of a move away from Leverkusen in the coming summer, with Real Madrid among the clubs keeping close tabs on his situation. Tottenham Hotspur, too, are scouting the young coach, as they look for a replacement for Antonio Conte next season.
However, in a recent interview, Xabi Alonso has poured water over hopes of a potential move to Real Madrid or Tottenham Hotspur, suggesting he would like to remain at Leverkusen next season.
“I’ve been in football for many years, rumours are normal but we still have a lot to achieve,” he said (h/t Fabrizio Romano).
“That’s why my head is 100 percent here for the last few months. And my head is also 100 percent here for next season,” he added.
Alonso’s comments about his future are hardly surprising as one major reason behind his Leverkusen job was the long-term project he had embarked upon. Although B04 are prone to losing coaches, he wanted to build something great at Leverkusen right from the beginning.
However, this could play into the hands of Real Madrid. Amid speculations suggesting Carlo Ancelotti’s prolonged stay at the club, the Spanish giants might just prefer Xabi Alonso stay at Leverkusen beyond 2023, before potentially joining Real Madrid in 2024.
That is when Ancelotti’s contract at Santiago Bernabeu expires, giving Alonso the chance to build something great at another one of his former clubs.
