You Are Free To Join Any Club, Leverkusen Tell Alonso
Bayer Leverkusen CEO Fernando Carro has revealed that the club and Xabi Alonso have a gentlemen’s agreement that would allow him to leave if one of the clubs he played for during his career comes knocking.
Alonso has been linked with a summer move to Real Madrid as the Spanish club eyes a summer rebuilding after crashing out of the Champions League in the quarter-finals.
Carlo Ancelotti’s contract is expected to run out at the end of the season, and Real Madrid are not expected to offer him a new contract, throwing the position open.
The 43-year-old enjoyed a remarkable career playing for the likes of Real Sociedad, Liverpool, Real Madrid, and Bayern Munich.
Alonso is under contract at Bayer Leverkusen until June 2026.
He has led the club to the Bundesliga title, German Cup and DFB Supercup since taking over in 2022.
Carro has opened up on the club’s agreement with Alonso while addressing rumours about his future at the club.
He said, “We have a gentlemen’s agreement that if any of the teams he has played for call, we will sit down and talk, and we won’t put any obstacles in his way.
“Last year, Xabi had offers from important clubs, but he assured us that he would stay with us. Maybe it is a bit early to talk, as the season is still ongoing.
“Maybe things can happen. So we have given ourselves some time to decide … We are very calm, and there is not much more to say other than that.”
However, the CEO confirmed that the club has a good relationship with Real Madrid while maintaining that there has been no contact from the Spanish club for Alonso.
Carro said, “We are not naive, but the position of the coach is very important for a club, and we are preparing for the next season with him.
“We have been working with him every day; he is fully involved in that preparation. We are a very professional club, and we have to be prepared for everything.
“If at the end of the day there is interest from another club and he is interested in going to that club, we have a relationship that we would have to talk about.
“Xabi’s will is important in this; he respects us a lot, and we respect Xabi.”
In Alonso’s third season in charge, Leverkusen trail league leaders Bayern by eight points with four matches remaining. They were knocked out of the Champions League by Bayern Munich at the round-of-16 stage.
He has led the club to 18 wins, 10 draws, and two defeats in 30 Bundesliga matches this season.
You Are Free To Join Any Club, Leverkusen Tell Alonso is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
