Xabi Alonso requests his first major signing at Real Madrid
Real Madrid is in danger of a disappointing end to the season. Los Blancos suffered a crushing defeat to Arsenal over two legs in the Champions League quarterfinals and are seven points behind leaders and arch-rivals Barcelona in second place in La Liga. Carlo Ancelotti’s side have reached the Copa del Rey final but face the task of defeating Barcelona to win the title.
Ancelotti’s future is in doubt, with Sky Sports reporting that the Italian will leave after the Copa del Rey final and become the new coach of the Brazilian national team.
Jurgen Klopp has been linked with the Santiago Bernabéu manager’s job, but the former Liverpool boss is said to be “very excited about his new role as Red Bull’s head of global football.”
Former Spain international midfielder Xabi Alonso is now the favorite to take over at Real Madrid if Ancelotti leaves, with Bayer CEO Fernando Caro revealing a “gentleman’s agreement” allows him to leave if one of his former clubs asks him to.
A Spanish report now claims the former Real Madrid star has already made signing Real Sociedad midfielder and Arsenal target Zubimendi a top priority.
According to Defensa Central, Alonso believes that “signing Zubimendi is necessary because he is at a different level than the midfielders Real Madrid already has.”
Arsenal left-back Kieran Tierney described Zubimendi in The Guardian in February 2024 as a “world-class” player, and Zubimendi has a €60 million (£51.5 million, $69 million) release clause in his Sociedad contract.
Alonso’s stance on the 26-year-old will be a major blow to Arsenal, who worked hard behind the scenes to convince him to move to the Emirates Stadium during the summer transfer window.
