Bayer Leverkusen expect a decision over head coach Xabi Alonso’s future to be made in the next three to four weeks.
The 43-year-old Spaniard is favoured by Real Madrid to take over from Carlo Ancelotti and Leverkusen CEO Fernando Carro says there is an agreement with Alonso that they would discuss any offers if he is approached by his former clubs.
Ancelotti is expected to leave Madrid with the Brazil national team his most likely destination. The La Liga club want to finalise their managerial arrangements in time for the start of the Club World Cup on June 14 and Alonso, who won La Liga and the Champions League during his time as a player with Real, is the club’s No 1 choice.
When asked whether there was a release clause in Alonso’s contract, Carro said: “No, but we have a gentlemen’s agreement. If a team he has played for comes, we will sit down and talk and we won’t put obstacles in his way. He’s played for Bayern, Liverpool, Real Madrid and Real Sociedad. …. maybe Real Sociedad will come!
“Last year during the international break he assured us that he would stay with us, despite having offers from other teams. This international break, at the end of March, we sat down to talk and we have given ourselves some time to decide if he will stay with us until next year. We are very calm because we have an excellent relationship.”
Speaking at the the Laureus Awards, Carro said: “I am calm because the relationship with Xabi Alonso is very good. We are aware that there can be situations where there are changes that affect one club and that affect another club when it comes to players or coaches. So we are not naive.
“The reality is that we are preparing the planning for next season and the team with him. He is totally involved in next year’s squad. If a club is interested and he is interested, we would have to talk about it, we have that relationship. Our wish is for him to continue, but we are clear that the decision has to be made in the next three or four weeks.”
Speaking about interest from Madrid, who face Barcelona in the Copa del Rey final on Saturday, and their president Florentino Perez, Carro said: “Undoubtedly I would prefer Madrid to win all the competitions in which they participate because then there would not be these discussions, but they can still win the league as well as the cup!
“We know each other, we have a very good relationship. I have only met Florentino personally once but I have had an excellent relationship with (Madrid CEO) Jose Angel Sanchez. We have a fluid relationship because they are two clubs that respect each other and they are two very professional clubs.
“I think we can speculate a lot, right now there is nothing. In the next few weeks we will know if there is a ‘tectonic’ change between the clubs.”
Alonso led Leverkusen to the Bundesliga title last season with his side going unbeaten throughout the 34-game season. They are second in the Bundesliga table this season, eight points behind leader Bayern Munich and face Augsberg on Saturday.
Real are second in La Liga, four points behind leaders Barca.
(Top photo: Lars Baron/Getty Images)