Carlo Ancelotti said the "doors are open" for Xabi Alonso at Real Madrid following the news that the Spaniard will leave Bayer Leverkusen at the end of the season. (More Sports News)
Alonso will call time on a memorable three years with the Bundesliga club, having guided them to their first top-flight title in 2023-24, going unbeaten during that campaign
Carlo Ancelotti said the "doors are open" for Xabi Alonso at Real Madrid following the news that the Spaniard will leave Bayer Leverkusen at the end of the season. (More Sports News)
Alonso will call time on a memorable three years with the Bundesliga club, having guided them to their first top-flight title in 2023-24, going unbeaten during that campaign.
The 43-year-old also lifted the바카라 웹사이트DFB-Pokal last season and started the 2024-25 campaign with victory in the바카라 웹사이트DFL-Supercup final against Stuttgart.바카라 웹사이트
Alonso has taken charge of 138 matches across all competitions with Leverkusen, winning 89 (D31 L18).바카라 웹사이트
Following a fine debut season, Alonso signed a contract extension in August 2023 to run to 2026, though Leverkusen CEO바카라 웹사이트Fernando Carro said they had a "gentleman's agreement" that would allow Alonso to leave should one of the clubs he played for come calling.바카라 웹사이트
It is expected that Alonso is heading to the Spanish capital to take over from Ancelotti, who has been linked with a move to become the Brazil national team boss.바카라 웹사이트
And Ancelotti, who coached Alonso at Bayern Munich and Madrid, believes he could be a good바카라 웹사이트fit for Los Blancos given his recent success with Leverkusen.
"I read that he's leaving Bayer Leverkusen," Ancelotti said.바카라 웹사이트"He's done an incredible job and the doors are open to him because he's proven to be one of the best in the world."
Despite the rumours continuing to circulate around his future, Ancelotti insisted he was still in the "honeymoon" period during his second spell in바카라 웹사이트Madrid.
"If he [Alonso] represents Real Madrid better than anyone else, I don't know that," Ancelotti added.바카라 웹사이트
"Real Madrid is a special club that requires a special attitude from everyone who works here: players, coach, staff.
"With this club, the honeymoon never ends. Real Madrid, like Milan before them, are clubs that remain in my heart for the time I've been here and for the relationships.
"When the pressure goes down, the affection rises. The honeymoon with Madrid will last until the last day of my life."
Ancelotti is preparing for Madrid's highly-anticipated Clasico encounter with Barcelona on Sunday, which바카라 웹사이트will be his 350th match in charge of the club.바카라 웹사이트
He is only the second manager to surpass that total, after바카라 웹사이트Miguel Munoz (595), and will likely leave Madrid as their바카라 웹사이트most successful manager, winning 15 titles across his two spells.
The Italian has won 247 of his 349 games in charge across all competitions (D50 L52), with his team scoring 825 goals while averaging a win percentage of 70.77%.바카라 웹사이트
"It's not that complicated. Lisbon, Paris, and London. It's not that complicated for these 350. I don't remember all 350," Ancelotti said.
"In some games we've done well, and others are better to forget because they're not always done well."
But he has struggled against Barca, losing 12 of his 25 matches against them바카라 웹사이트in all competitions (W10 D3), more than against any other opponent in his entire managerial career.
Three of those defeats have come this season, including losses in the바카라 웹사이트Supercopa de Espana and Copa del Rey finals.바카라 웹사이트
Madrid are four points behind Barca in LaLiga and, despite바카라 웹사이트the possibility of a rare trophyless season, Ancelotti said his players are relishing the test in El Clasico.바카라 웹사이트
He added: "It's not difficult to motivate the players because it's a type of match for which they already come out motivated and full of confidence."