With Carlo Ancelotti’s departure, it seems like a done deal that Xabi Alonso will be the next coach of Real Madrid. It’s the end of an era at the Santiago Bernabéu and the start of a new one that looks promising and has Madrid fans excited. The team needs a change after this season, and the Spanish coach’s style of play and management of the locker room seem like the best solution.
Goodbye Carlo Ancelotti, hello Xabi Alonso
Carlo Ancelotti’s project at Real Madrid has come to an end. In a year marked by poor results and the likelihood of finishing without any of the three major titles, the rope has snapped and Florentino has taken a drastic decision. The Real Madrid president has said that he believes a change of direction is the solution to the problems of a team that has been leaky in defense and lacking in punch up front on many occasions.
His departure has been months in the making and everything points to it happening at the end of the regular season. In principle, the idea is that the Italian will no longer be in charge of the team for the Club World Cup, where Solari will take over on an interim basis while the new coach is finalized and he works on planning for the new season.
That new coach is expected to be Xabi Alonso. Real Madrid has been negotiating with the Spanish coach for months, and he seems to be getting closer and closer to the Santiago Bernabéu. His departure from Bayer Leverkusen, with whom he still has a contract for next season, seemed complicated, but his desire to coach Madrid and Florentino’s commitment to him, even investing money in his signing, have made things easier.
In recent hours, it has been reported on the television program El Chiringuito that Xabi Alonso has already informed the club and the squad of his desire not to continue at Bayer Leverkusen next season. In principle, he has not revealed his destination, although it is widely known that it will be Real Madrid.
Xabi arrives with specific requests
Xabi Alonso’s arrival seems to be a done deal, and the coach has a clear plan to revitalize Real Madrid for next season. The Tolosa native will give two names: Zubimendi and Wirtz. The former has a price tag (€60 million); the latter will require negotiation. Tah, a market opportunity.
With his arrival at the Santiago Bernabéu, Xabi Alonso wants to bring two of his current players with him, while also targeting a player who has been on Real Madrid’s radar for months and for whom they are willing to make an effort.
Martín Zubimendi has been on Real Madrid’s agenda for months as the new Toni Kroos. The Real Sociedad player is very much to Florentino’s liking, who took advantage of the Copa del Rey match to follow the Spanish midfielder closely. However, his €60 million price tag and stiff competition from Arsenal, who have always been ahead in the negotiations, seem to complicate the signing of a player who, a priori, was predisposed to play at the Santiago Bernabéu and continue in LaLiga.
Another of Xabi Alonso’s requests would also be for the midfield. The coach has polished and seen Wirtz grow under his guidance and wants him at Real Madrid. The problem is his price. A price would have to be agreed with Leverkusen, and it is unlikely to be less than €100 million. His arrival would probably have to be linked to the departure of a player from Madrid’s current attack.
Finally, another Leverkusen player who Xabi likes and who would arrive at no cost is Jonathan Tah. In principle, the player has always been linked with Barcelona, but the Catalans cannot register him, which would pave the way for him to arrive for free at the coach’s request.