Bayer Leverkusen 'bury' Real Madrid's hopes with Xabi Alonso

Xabi Alonso is set to be one of the stars of the upcoming transfer market. The Bayer Leverkusen coach is wanted by Real Madrid and Manchester City due to his great work on the bench at the BayArena, which has led to him being considered by the 'merengues' and 'citizens' as the ideal replacement for Carlo Ancelotti and Pep Guardiola if they end up leaving their positions at the end of the season.

The interest of both clubs, especially the Madridistas, is concrete and everything indicated that the San Sebastian native would lead the change of cycle at the Bernabéu starting next season. However, the latest statements by the sporting director of the aspirins, Simon Rolfes, to 'DAZN' could have buried the hopes of the whites and the 'skyblues' regarding the possible arrival of Alonso to their teams.

Simon Rolfes' words

And when asked about Sebastian Hoeness, Xabi's rumoured replacement at Leverkusen, the director said that "I know the name Hoeness, of course, but there are so many names that have come up that it makes no sense to speculate about it..."

"We have a preferred candidate for this season and we also have one for next season, and in both cases it is Xabi Alonso. That is what matters"

Later, the journalist Laura Wontorra asked him what percentage Xabi Alonso has of being at Leverkusen until 2026, to which Rolfes said that "at the moment it is 100 percent. He has a contract and shows no signs of going in another direction." In this way, the German executive seems to 'end' the speculations that link the San Sebastian native to Madrid or City and leaves the future of the benches of both institutions more up in the air than ever.