Maldini's Reply about Xabi Alonso's Transfer by Real Madrid: 'It was...'

The competitive inconsistency shown during the current soccer season has left many questions about Ancelotti's continuity at the helm of Santiago Bernabéu changing room. While the executives led by Florentino still trust the Italian strategist, they continue to search for his successor in that position to avoid surprises in future summer markets.

The "favorite" in the Valdebebas offices is none other than Xabi Alonso, who has recently been in Valdebebas. Although directing a Bayer Leverkusen training session before the Champions League clash against Atlético de Madrid. Regardless, rumors linking the Basque coach and the white club increase every day.

Julio Maldonado, better known as "Maldini", hasn't missed the opportunity to comment on this future soap opera the Meringue bosses have on their hands for the coaching position. Thus, the journalist makes it clear that "at some point, we'll see Xabi Alonso coaching Real Madrid". However, that's not all he has to say about a dilemma that has become entrenched much earlier than some imagined.

Because this international soccer expert predicts that the current Bayer Leverkusen coach will join the white club in the future. An idea he supports "without any doubt". However, "I don't know if next season" that prediction will come true, which also fills fans with excitement and leaves some players ready for a change in dynamics.

Intricate planning

Xabi Alonso's decision to coach Real Madrid, a future that Maldonado sees very close to the present moment, had a prerequisite: staying at Bayer Leverkusen. That determination by the former Basque midfielder "was surprising" according to "Maldini", as he had very interesting offers from both Bayern Munich and Liverpool.

Both teams had lost their coaches at the end of the 23/24 season. And looked toward Leverkusen hoping to find the replacement for Thomas Tuchel and Jürgen Klopp, respectively. Nothing could be further from the truth: the Basque seems to have chosen to stay in the werkself sports discipline until his contract ends.

That date is none other than the summer of 2026. Such a limit coincides with the one established in Ancelotti's contract: the Reggiolo coach, barring an absolute surprise, would also end his second stint at the white club. Such a coincidence would enable a coaching change without Santiago Bernabéu's coffers having to make an economic effort in any sense.

Neither to secure the services of the Basque coach nor to definitively part ways with the legendary Italian coach. Real Madrid seems to have carefully planned the succession on the local bench of Santiago Bernabéu, an operation that would replace one Madridist idol with another of equal stature and impact.