Bayer Leverkusen chief offers update on Xabi Alonso future amid Real Madrid links

Bayer Leverkusen’s sporting director has responded to reports stating Xabi Alonso could leave Bayer Leverkusen for Real Madrid next season.

Having won Leverkusen’s first Bundesliga title last year, as well as the German Cup and German Super Cup, Alonso was earmarked with moves to various European giants, including Bayern Munich, Man United and Liverpool.

The former Madrid midfielder also took Leverkusen to the Europa League final in 2024, where they suffered their only defeat of the season. 

As reported by Mail Sport, Alonso has been joined by Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola on Madrid’s shortlist should Carlo Ancelotti leave this summer.

Contingenty plans in the event of Ancelotti’s departure have been drawn up, it is understood, and Iraola, represented by the same agency as Alonso, is firmly on their radar.

However, Leverkusen’s sporting director, Simon Rolfes, issued a firm verdict on Alonso’s future, speaking after his side’s 3-1 win over Bochum on Friday.

Alonso has been heavily linked to Real Madrid after his historic success in Germany last year

In 2023-24, Leverkusen went 51 games unbeaten last season, a European record, while winning the Bundesliga and DFB Pokal along the way

Rolfes said: ‘No, he’s staying, that’s it. He told me that there was nothing. He has a contract with us.’

While he has not enjoyed the same glory he did last season, Alonso has put in a strong showing in his third year with Leverkusen.

The German champions sit second in the Bundesliga, six points off table-toppers Bayern, who knocked Alonso’s side out in the Champions League last-16.

Meanwhile, Leverkusen remain in the DFB Pokal, preparing to face Arminia Bielefeld in the semi-finals on Thursday.

Earlier this month, Ancelotti was quizzed on rumours he could be dismissed by Madrid and made it clear he would not be walking away from his post prematurely.

Speaking to PoretCast di Giacomo Poretti, he said: ‘I don’t know when. 

‘I don’t decide. The only clear thing I know is that I don’t decide when I will leave, the president will. It will happen sooner or later.’

In January, Ancelotti laughed off speculation he had decided to leave at the end of the season regardless of results and pointed to Florentino Perez’s re-election.

Carlo Ancelotti has also insisted he has no plans to walk away from Madrid in the summer

Ancelotti said his future was solely in the hands of Madrid president Florentino Perez

‘I want to be very clear: the departure date of this club is never going to be decided by me in my life,’ he said. 

‘I have the advantage that Florentino will stay for four more years and I have the objective of reaching them with him. We can say goodbye together.’

Ancelotti signed a new deal as Madrid’s head coach at the end of 2023, committing his future until 2026, and he appears to be in no hurry to take up a new challenge.

Indeed, the 65-year-old has led his side to no less than 10 trophies, including two Champions Leagues, since returning for a second spell in charge in 2021. He is also the head coach with the most trophies (15) in the club’s illustrious history.