Real Madrid is moving quietly but decisively. With Carlo Ancelotti still at the helm and the Copa del Rey final just around the corner, the Valdebebas offices are already thinking about next season. And Xabi Alonso seems to be the chosen one. The current Bayer Leverkusen coach is the favorite to take the reins of the white team, and although his release clause is around 10 million euros, Florentino Pérez could have a master plan to bring him in… for free.
Xabi Alonso’s clause
Far from the media hype, Xabi Alonso and the Bayer Leverkusen board agreed a curious clause in the Tolosa-born coach’s latest contract renewal. It is not a million-dollar figure, but rather a verbal agreement, a gentleman’s agreement, which allows the coach to leave the club without penalty if one of four teams comes knocking on his door: Real Sociedad, Liverpool, Bayern Munich or Real Madrid.
The existence of this clause reflects the mutual respect between Leverkusen and Xabi Alonso. The issue came to light not long ago when the German team’s CEO, Fernando Carro, mentioned it in one of his public speeches at the Laureus Awards. His words make it clear that “he has four weeks to execute it if any of those clubs make him an offer.” In other words, Real Madrid has less than a month to convince him and pull off a masterstroke.
Xabi Alonso and the Club World Cup
The timing is perfect. Real Madrid is preparing for a tough and complicated end to the season, but Florentino Pérez’s real goal goes beyond that: the new Club World Cup. With a financial reward of over $140 million and the chance to be the first champion of the new format, planning for that date has become a priority and a top priority in the Bernabéu offices.
Ancelotti has more than fulfilled his duties, but the feeling is that his cycle could come to an end in the summer. In this context, Xabi Alonso appears to be the natural replacement: a former player of the club, charismatic, intelligent and, above all, successful in his first major experience as a coach. Bayer Leverkusen has been impressive in the Bundesliga during the Tolosa-born coach’s seasons.
Florentino is clear that the market is unforgiving and that the opportunity to bring Xabi in without paying his $1 million release clause is unique. The gentlemen’s agreement, which is not a mere formality, allows the Real Madrid president to make his move elegantly and without direct confrontation with Leverkusen.
When could Xabi Alonso arrive?
Everything will depend on how the season ends. If Real Madrid manages to achieve its objectives—especially the Copa del Rey and La Liga—Ancelotti’s departure could become complicated. Xabi, for his part, will have to weigh up the challenge of coaching one of the biggest clubs in the world just before the Club World Cup.
According to sources close to the Basque coach, Madrid has already made its interest known. It is not a typical negotiation, but it is a clear message: they are counting on him for next season. With the “four-week” window open, the clock has started ticking.
Florentino has experience in this type of operation. And if everything goes according to plan, Madrid will not only have its new coach… but it will do so without spending a single euro on his transfer. A masterstroke.