“Players like Xabi Alonso in midfield have the capacity to read the whole game,” Simeone said then. “Alonso’s return meant Madrid found the famous ‘balance’ their coach (then Carlo Ancelotti) was looking for. But the balance is Xabi Alonso, not the others.”

The two standout German teams from last season are on opposite trajectories as the pressure mounts in the Bundesliga and Champions League.

Victor Boniface is reportedly set to become one of the highest-paid players at Bayer Leverkusen as the German club kickstarts negotiations for a new deal.

Xabi Alonso could make up to five changes to his Bayer Leverkusen side ahead of their Champions League against Atlético Madrid at the Wanda Metropolitano on Tuesday night.Lukas Hradecky, Arthur,

Now, as reports heighten regarding Ancelotti’s potential departure this summer, rumours speculating Alonso as the Italian’s natural heir have also increased, especially with Leverkusen’s upcoming match against Los Blancos’ bitter rivals Atlético de Madrid.

Earlier today, reports emerged from Spain suggesting that Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti had decided to step away from his position at the end of the season.In that scenario, former midfielder

CARLO ANCELOTTI will quit Real Madrid with Xabi Alonso ready to replace him, according to reports. The 65-year-old boss guided Los Blancos to LaLiga and Champions League glory last season. But

Amid the uncertainty surrounding his future, Ancelotti's former player, Alonso, continues to be linked with the managerial hot seat at the Santiago Bernabeu. The former Real Madrid midfielder played down the speculation when reporters asked about the rumours in Monday's pre-match press conference.

Transfer news LIVE! Arsenal suffer Cunha blow; Chelsea eye Sesko hijack; Dorgu to Man United, Rashford update - Gunners step up striker search but Blues also in the market

The Iberian media announced that Carlo Ancelotti wishes to leave Real Madrid at the end of the 2024-25 financial year, one year before the end of his contract. This astonishing information has not been confirmed by the main Spanish media.

The Athletic report that no bid has gone in but Carter-Vickers is of interest to Xabi Alonso. The former Tottenham defender, though, is though to favour a return to the Premier League.