Again, Xabi Alonso Rejects Offer To Train Real Madrid

JAKARTA - The name Xabi Alonso is still a priority candidate to replace Carlo Anceloti at Real Madrid.

Spanish radio station Onda Cero reported on Monday, January 20, 2025, that Ancelotti, which has a contract in Bernabeu until June 2026, has decided to leave at the end of this season.

Alonso also appeared as a favorite to take over Los Blancos when the time came.

Although rumors circulated, Xabi Alonso responded very calmly, rather refusing to be subtle.

"I am very calm, I focus on what I have to do. I already have a lot to worry about."

"Right now, that's what's in my head. This is the time to work with Leverkusen, with the team, with all the challenges we face. I am very happy," Alonso told Movistar ahead of a trip to Atletico Madrid's headquarters in the Champions League.

While actively playing, Alonso joined Real Madrid from Liverpool in 2009 and won the Champions League, La Liga, and two Copa del Rey before moving to Bayern Munich in 2014.

After retiring as a player, he spent one season coaching Real Madrid's U-14 team before taking over the Real Sociedad reserve team.

After that, he became head coach for Bayer Leverkusen and won the Bundesliga title in the 2023/2024 season with an unbeaten record.

Alonso's Leverkusen is currently second in the Bundesliga, four points behind Bayern Munich, and fourth in the Champions League standings ahead of the match against Atletico on Wednesday, January 22, 2025, early morning WIB.

Alonso is now just thinking about Leverkusen's game up front and doesn't want to be bothered by the rumors circulating.

"Thinking in the long term in football means worrying many things. I have to focus on the short term, namely melawna Atletico, then we go to RB Leipzig (in the Bundesliga), I'm enough."

"I really love Bayer Leverkusen. Our association is very strong, it's very clear. My current focus is entirely Bayer Leverkusen, that's what I think," Alonso said on Monday, January 20, 2025.

Meanwhile, Ancelotti has won two Champions Leagues and two league titles since returning to Madrid in 2021.

The team is at the top of La Liga and has won two trophies this season, the European Super Cup and the Intercontinental Cup (Interclub World Cup).

However, they also faced criticism from fans and the media after being beaten 2-5 by Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final earlier this month.