Bayer Leverkusen have confirmed Xabi Alonso will go away the membership on the finish of the season forward of his anticipated transfer to Actual Madrid.
talkSPORT understands former Los Blancos star Alonso has already agreed to return to the Bernabeu as their new supervisor this summer season after profitable a Bundesliga title and DFB-Pokal with Leverkusen in 2024.
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Leverkusen say they’ve agreed to Alonso’s request to terminate his contract early, so he could make to maneuver to Madrid.
And in a prolonged assertion they thanked the boss for the success he delivered to the membership in his two-and-a-half years in cost – together with profitable the Bundesliga title final season for the primary time of their historical past, and with out dropping a recreation.
Membership CEO Fernando Carro stated: “Bayer 04 have achieved lasting recognition within the soccer world via the focused success beneath Xabi Alonso. Bringing the Meisterschale to Leverkusen unbeaten plus profitable the DFB Pokal, reaching the Europa League remaining and profitable the Supercup makes us very proud.”
Sporting managing director Simon Rolfes added: “The Alonso period is a milestone within the improvement of Bayer 04 Leverkusen. Along with Xabi, we’ve got put collectively a crew that has impressed the entire soccer world via high quality on the pitch and mentality.
“We’re pleased with the massive steps ahead and the standing of the membership right now and need Xabi all the perfect in his future roles. I am certain our paths will typically cross once more.”
It has been a outstanding rise for Alonso, who is ready to take the highest job at Actual Madrid as solely the second appointment in his quick teaching profession.
Present Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti is ready to depart Madrid for the second time – with the long-lasting Italian broadly anticipated to take the Brazil job.
Madrid are understood to be planning a grand farewell for his or her remaining dwelling recreation of the season – in opposition to Actual Sociedad on Might 25.
Alonso will get his probability to say farewell to Leverkusen followers at their remaining dwelling recreation of the season this weekend in opposition to Borussia Dortmund.
“I owe nice because of Bayer 04 Leverkusen, my gamers and workers, all the workers of the membership and final however not least the improbable followers,” reads a press release from the coach.
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“Our success was the results of an excellent crew efficiency. This membership, who confirmed distinctive belief in me, very a lot deserved to win the German league title for the primary time.
“My thanks and admiration go to all people who helped to make this triumph occur, together with the DFB Pokal win in Berlin. Bayer 04 are prepared for the longer term. The constructive path will proceed and I will probably be excited to observe it.”
Ancelotti delivered two LaLiga titles and two Champions League crowns after becoming a member of the membership for a second stint as supervisor in 2021.
Final season, Madrid accomplished the treble as Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Junior starred.
And with the addition of Kylian Mbappe in the summertime switch window, Madrid have been anticipated to brush each competitors they entered.
However in actuality, Ancelotti’s facet have failed to enhance and even keep final marketing campaign’s stage.
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They crashed out of the Champions League within the quarter-finals after being thrashed by Arsenal and their LaLiga hopes are hanging by a thread as Barcelona proceed to thrive domestically.
A slender defeat to Barcelona within the Copa del Rey remaining signalled the tip for Ancelotti – who is known to been given his marching orders in a gathering with Madrid’s hierarchy afterwards.
Alonso performed for Madrid from 2009 to 2014 the place he gained the LaLiga, a Champions League and two Spanish Cups.
In 2017, the previous Liverpool midfielder retired and entered the managerial scene two years later as Actual Sociedad B head coach, the place he remained till 2022.
He returned to Germany that yr, however to not Bayern Munich – his final membership as a participant.
Alonso joined Leverkusen in October when the facet have been within the relegation zone.
He was the catalyst behind their ascension to a sixth place end within the Bundesliga, which earned a Europa League spot for the next marketing campaign.
In the course of the 2023/24 season, he applied a 3-4-3 formation, inserting an emphasis on being extra comfy in possession, constructing lengthy passing sequences, relatively than counting on their earlier counter attacking fashion.
That season, Leverkusen went undefeated on their option to the Bundesliga title with 28 wins and 6 attracts. whereas additionally selecting up a German Cup and ending runners-up within the Europa League.
Nonetheless, Alonso failed in his title defence as Bayern Munich lately gained the league with a number of video games to spare.
With Trent Alexander-Arnold set to affix Madrid, followers will probably be wanting to see how the right-back is applied.
Will Alonso play the England worldwide as a standard right-back or will he keep truthful to his 3-4-3 formation?
Questions additionally come up when fascinated by how the 43-year-old will introduce fluidity within the entrance three of Mbappe, Vinicius and Rodrygo – who’ve struggled to mesh beforehand.