Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso declines to comment on Real Madrid links amid critical phase of season

Alonso has emerged as a leading candidate to succeed Carlo Ancelotti at the Santiago Bernabeu, following Real Madrid's recent exit from the UEFA Champions League at the hands of Arsenal. The defeat has cast doubt over Ancelotti's long-term future, with Alonso widely regarded as a natural successor due to his deep ties to the club.

The 43-year-old Spaniard enjoyed a successful five-year spell as a player at Madrid, where he won both LaLiga and the Champions League. Since moving into management, Alonso has enhanced his reputation significantly, particularly during his tenure at Bayer Leverkusen, where he took over in October 2022. Under his leadership, Leverkusen secured an historic unbeaten domestic double last season, winning both the Bundesliga and the DFB-Pokal for the first time in the club's history.

Speaking ahead of Leverkusen's upcoming Bundesliga fixture against St Pauli, Alonso remained non-committal regarding the reports.

"This is not the right moment to talk about my future," Alonso stated during his pre-match press conference. "We are in a very important phase of the season. I understand the speculation, but for me, the focus must remain on the present."

Leverkusen currently trail league leaders Bayern Munich by six points with five matches remaining. Despite a record-breaking campaign last season, the club has faced setbacks in its quest for silverware this term. Leverkusen were eliminated by Bayern in the Champions League Round of 16 and suffered a surprise German Cup semi-final defeat to third-tier Arminia Bielefeld.

Amidst the uncertainty, Leverkusen CEO Fernando Carro recently expressed confidence that Alonso would remain at the helm next season.

"He feels very comfortable here," Carro told reporters. "We are planning the next season with him—preseason, fixtures, squad building. There is no indication from our side that this will change."

This is not the first time Alonso has been linked with a return to one of his former clubs. Similar rumours surfaced in March of last year, involving Madrid, Liverpool, and Bayern Munich. On that occasion, Alonso swiftly addressed the speculation in a press conference, reaffirming his commitment to Leverkusen's title challenge.

While the narrative surrounding his potential return to Madrid continues to gather momentum, Alonso remains focused on finishing the current campaign strongly.