This Saturday the match against Real Sociedad will be Carlo Ancelotti’s farewell from the bench of Real Madrid. Poor results and feelings this season have brought an end to the Italian’s era with the white team. It has been a successful era that makes the Italian coach the most successful in the history of the club, so his farewell will be with honors.
A farewell that paves the way for the arrival of Xabi Alonso at the Santiago Bernabéu. The arrival of the new coach is eagerly awaited by Madrid fans, who are confident that the Spanish coach will turn the current situation around and put the team back in the fight for titles.
Arrival date and first task
According to the prestigious journalist Fabrizio Romano, Xabi Alonso could travel to Madrid next week for direct talks with the club, so his arrival looks to be imminent and he will have to get down to work shortly afterwards to get to know his players and get ready for the Club World Cup.
His main task during this initial contact will be to evaluate the current squad and make decisions about many players who are currently on the fence. Xabi Alonso will have to assess the situation of players such as Rodrygo, Modric, Lunin, Alaba, Mendy… and many others. The season has not been easy and everything points to difficult decisions having to be made and a firm stance being taken, as the Spanish coach wants to start a new successful cycle.
In addition, he will also have to assess the situation of several youth players who have been involved with the first team, such as Gonzalo García. In recent days, it has been suggested that Xabi Alonso does not want Real Madrid to sell the player as he wants to count on him for next season.
The Club World Cup, Xabi Alonso’s first challenge
He will not have much time to reflect on his arrival, as the Club World Cup kicks off on June 14. Real Madrid’s objective is clear: the Whites want to come out on top in the first edition of the FIFA tournament and thus make history. That will be Xabi Alonso’s first challenge at the helm of the Whites, winning the title in the United States with a squad that is hoping for reinforcements as it will be depleted.
The first to arrive has been Dean Huijsen, but with the confirmed absences of Camavinga, Mendy and, in the last few hours, Endrick, and doubts about the condition of players such as Dani Carvajal, Eder Militao, Rüdiger and Alaba, the task will not be easy. The Whites are hoping for the arrival of right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold ahead of the World Cup, as well as a left-back who looks set to be Álvaro Carreras.
What is clear is that, from Saturday, when Carlo Ancelotti’s departure is a fact, the Xabi Alonso era will begin with challenges from the first minute and with high hopes that his arrival will mark the beginning of a new cycle of success in which the long-awaited 16th European Cup will be won.