Real Madrid acquisition terms for Bayer Leverkusen's Xabi Alonso disclosed, as the midfielder discloses his departure
Heads Up, Bayer Leverkusen Fans: Prepare for Potential Changes
The current Bundesliga champions may not be enjoying a jolly Easter, as their title defense seems all but over. If that wasn't enough, their manager, Xabi Alonso, might be joining the exodus.
On Monday, it appears that manager Xabi Alonso could exit the club, following in the footsteps of one of his star players. Leverkusen drew 1-1 against St. Pauli on Sunday, giving league leaders Bayern Munich an eight-point advantage with four games left to play. This puts Leverkusen almost guaranteed to go trophyless this season, not great news with Alonso heavily linked with Real Madrid.
Reports suggest that Leverkusen will not stand in Alonso's way if he decides to join Madrid. Fernando Carro, the club's CEO, confirmed this in an interview at the Laureus World Sports Awards, stating that they have a "gentlemen's agreement." He noted, "He's played for Bayern [Munich], Liverpool, Real Madrid, Real Sociedad... maybe Real Sociedad will come."
Last summer, Alonso was linked with the same clubs, but he opted instead to defend his Bundesliga and DFB Pokal titles. Meanwhile, Bayern pursued Vincent Kompany while Liverpool went for Arne Slot, and Madrid kept Ancelotti. However, the latter's position is now uncertain, with defeat to Arsenal and Barcelona's four-point league lead complicating matters.
While Carro suggested that planning for pre-season continues with Alonso, he recognizes that a decision must be made soon due to its impact on squad planning and preparation. "We are already preparing for pre-season with Xabi Alonso, we are preparing the squad with him," he said. "Yet, we need to make that clear to him in the next few weeks and we will discuss it with him in the next few weeks."
Carro also updated the status of Bundlesliga Player of the Year, Florian Wirtz, who is constantly linked with Bayern. Despite their interest, Carro expects Wirtz to remain with Leverkusen, expressing frustration over public comments about tapping him up by Bavarian executives.
Adding to the chaos, key defender Jonathan Tah has revealed that he will not be signing a new deal with Leverkusen and has already communicated this, leaving the club braced for his departure.
- With Xabi Alonso possibly leaving Bayer Leverkusen for Real Madrid, the Champions League-winning manager might find himself coaching in the Spanish La Liga.
- The uncertainty over Xabi Alonso's future could see him coaching a different team next season, moving from the Premier League (Liverpool) and La Liga (Real Madrid) to the European leagues.
- If Alonso moves to Real Madrid, Leverkusen might be in the market for a new manager, potentially looking at candidates from the Premier League, such as Arne Slot or even the manager of Real Sociedad, which is a team Alonso has previously represented.
- The Champions League title defenders, Bayer Leverkusen, might undergo significant changes next season, with manager Xabi Alonso potentially exiting the club and star players like Fernando seeking opportunities elsewhere.
- Amidst transfer rumors, there are indications that Leverkusen might lose key players like Jonathan Tah, who has already announced his intention to leave the club.
- While Bayer Leverkusen's title defense seems to be faltering, other sports teams, such as the Major League Baseball (MLB) squads, are gearing up for their respective seasons with their rosters in place.
- The Premier League, along with European leagues like the Bundesliga, are nearing the end of their seasons, with teams like Leverkusen finding themselves fighting for a trophy wildcard.
- As the sports world continues to evolve, fans eagerly await updates on their favorite teams, such as Bayer Leverkusen, and their managers, like the happy-go-lucky Xabi Alonso, who are facing potentially transformative changes.
