It looks like Real Madrid already won the Xabi Alonso race

Xabi Alonso has become the most coveted name in the managerial market by leading Bayer Leverkusen to an undefeated start to the 2023/24 season.

Die Werkself are in the driver’s seat to win the Bundesliga and break up Bayern Munich’s hegemony of the title, having brought Die Roten to their knees in a recent 3-0 drubbing.

Every top club with a possible manager vacancy is after Alonso, including former club Bayern. Two other former clubs of his, Liverpool and Real Madrid, have also been linked, even though Los Blancos don’t currently have a managerial vacancy.

Yet as it stands, it looks like Real Madrid have won the battle to sign Xabi Alonso before the summer transfer window even begins, in spite of the fact that they already have a settled coaching situation with the legendary Carlo Ancelotti at the helm.

That’s because Alonso has reportedly decided to stay with the Bayer Leverkusen project for at least one more season, as the club have all but guaranteed a Champions League berth for the 2024/25 season.

Not only does Alonso remain committed to the Leverkusen project in the short term, but this also increases the chances of him leaving Leverkusen at a later date when Real Madrid are ready to replace Ancelotti with a more long-term manager.

Real Madrid initially hired Carletto to replace Zinedine Zidane after the French icon’s resignation, intending to hire the Italian coach as a short-term solution before hiring someone else to manage the team over the long haul.

At the time, Alonso was mentioned alongside Raúl and even Julian Nagelsmann as a possible “coach for the future” at the Santiago Bernabéu.

For Alonso, the future is now. He is already as good as any manager in the world, based on what he is accomplishing in Germany at his first major coaching gig.

Alonso could have the keys to the kingdom in Madrid, working with the likes of Jude Bellingham, Rodrygo Goes, Aurélien Tchouaméni, Endrick, Vinícius Júnior, and, very likely, Kylian Mbappé on a team loaded with young talent.

The Spanish manager is already working wonders in Leverkusen with young up-and-coming stars, but imagine what he would be capable of with the full powers of the Real Madrid machine and their young phenoms.

A new era could be dawning on the Spanish capital, with Carlo giving way to a player he once managed to greatness en route to La Décmia. And Alonso will aim to win many more Champions Leagues in Madrid.

Liverpool have a very appealing sporting project to offer to Alonso, but there’s something about Madrid that is too good to pass up on. It appears Alonso is willing to wait for Madrid while enjoying the fruits of his labors in Leverkusen at the Champions League level next season.