Xabi Alonso to Real Madrid moves closer as club chief confirms private talks

Bayer Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso has been linked with taking over at Real Madrid with Carlo Ancelotti expected to leave the Spanish capital after four years with the club

Bayer Leverkusen chief Fernando Carro has confirmed that Xabi Alonso’s future will be decided in the coming weeks. The chief executive has revealed they are making plans with the Spaniard for next season but have not ruled out an exit amid speculation of a move to Real Madrid.

Alonso led the German side to the Bundesliga title last season, and are set to finish as runners-up behind Bayern Munich this term. The Spaniard has a contract until 2026 at the BayArena.

Carlo Ancelotti’s Real Madrid future has come under scrutiny after the club’s Champions League exit to Arsenal. It has been said the Italian boss could even depart the Bernabeu before the end of April despite Los Blancos still being in contention for a league and cup double.

Former Liverpool midfielder Alonso has a gentleman’s agreement with Leverkusen that he will be allowed to consider a move to one of his former teams. The 43-year-old enjoyed a successful career with the likes of Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Liverpool.

Speaking at the the Laureus Awards, Carro seemed to open the door for Alonso to move, with the Leverkusen chief divulging details of a meeting between the club hierarchy and their boss.

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“No, but we have a gentlemen’s agreement,” Carro said at the Laureus Awards when asked if Alonso had a release clause. “If a team he has played for comes, we will sit down and talk and we won’t put obstacles in his way. He’s played for Bayern, Liverpool, Real Madrid and Real Sociedad. …. maybe Real Sociedad will come!

“Last year during the international break he assured us that he would stay with us, despite having offers from other teams. This international break, at the end of March, we sat down to talk and we have given ourselves some time to decide if he will stay with us until next year. We are very calm because we have an excellent relationship.”

“Undoubtedly I would prefer Madrid to win all the competitions in which they participate because then there would not be these discussions, but they can still win the league as well as the cup!” Carro added.

“We know each other, we have a very good relationship. I have only met Florentino personally once but I have had an excellent relationship with (Madrid CEO) Jose Angel Sanchez. We have a fluid relationship because they are two clubs that respect each other and they are two very professional clubs.

“I think we can speculate a lot, right now there is nothing. In the next few weeks we will know if there is a ‘tectonic’ change between the clubs.”

Carro is calm about Alonso’s situation however, and plans are underway for next season already. “The reality is that we are preparing the planning for next season and the team with him,” he said.

“He is totally involved in next year’s squad. If a club is interested and he is interested, we would have to talk about it, we have that relationship. Our wish is for him to continue, but we are clear that the decision has to be made in the next three or four weeks.”

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