Alonso to Real Madrid rumours blown open
Bayer Leverkusen chief executive Fernando Carro said the club and Xabi Alonso have a "gentleman's agreement" that would allow the Spaniard to leave the Bundesliga side should he so desire.
Alonso replaced Gerardo Seoane at Leverkusen in October 2022 and has gone on to become one of the most in-demand managers in world football.
He guided Leverkusen to its first Bundesliga title in 2023-2024, going unbeaten in the process, while also guiding the club to the DFB-Pokal in the same season.
Alonso has won 88 of his 136 matches in charge of Leverkusen across all competitions, losing only 18, and has been linked with a move away from the club for some time.
The 43-year-old was touted to fill vacant roles at Bayern Munich, Liverpool and Real Madrid last year, all of clubs for which he played during his playing career.
"We have a gentleman's agreement that if any of the teams he has played for calls, we would sit down and talk, and we wouldn't put any obstacles in his way," Carro said.
The Madrid ruours have surfaced again recently, with Carlo Ancelotti under pressure after a humbling 5-1 aggregate defeat to Arsenal in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals.
Alonso, though, has stated he will see out his contract at Leverkusen, which runs until 2026.
It has been reported that Ancelotti could step away from his position at the end of the season to take over the Brazil national team's vacant spot, which would leave the door open for Alonso should he wish to step through it.
"[Last year] Xabi had offers from important clubs, but he assured us that he would stay with us. Maybe it is a bit early to talk as the season is still ongoing," Carro said.
"Maybe things could happen. So we have given ourselves some time to decide.
"We are very calm and there is not much more to say other than that."
Carro revealed that Leverkusen's relationship with Madrid "is excellent" but explained there has been no contact whatsoever regarding Alonso from the Spanish club.
"We are not naive, but the position of the coach is very important for a club and we are preparing the next season with him," Carro said.
"We have been working with him every day, he is fully involved in that preparation. We are a very professional club and we have to be prepared for everything.
"If at the end of the day there is interest from another club and he is interested in going to that club, we have a relationship that we would have to talk about.
"Xabi's will is important in this, he respects us a lot, and we respect Xabi".
