Home » Xabi Alonso has ‘gentleman’s agreement’ with Bayer Leverkusen

Xabi Alonso has ‘gentleman’s agreement’ with Bayer Leverkusen

Bayer Leverkusen CEO Fernando Carro said there is a “gentleman’s agreement” allowing Xabi Alonso to leave for a former club.

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Bayer Leverkusen has “gentleman’s agreement” with Alonso

Alonso has been linked with replacing Carlo Ancelotti as manager of Real Madrid.

The Spanish manager played for Real Sociedad, Eibar (on loan), Liverpool, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich during his playing career.

“In a few weeks, we’ll know if there’s a coaching change at our clubs, but the fact is that we’re a very professional club and we have to be prepared for anything,” Carro told reporters on Monday.

“From the moment we signed Xabi, we knew he was going to be a great coach, and from the moment you sign one, you have to prepare others. His signing wasn’t just a one-off. First, we signed him for a year and a half until 2024, and then until 2026.”

“By signing him until 2026, we had confidence he’d stay. We can sleep peacefully, have a good breakfast, and be prepared for any eventuality. We have a gentleman’s agreement, and if a team he’s played for comes along, we can sit down.”

Hoping Alonso will extend

Since taking over in October 2022, Alonso has transformed Leverkusen from near-bottom to unbeaten Bundesliga champions.

Leverkusen also won the DFB-Pokal, DFL-Supercup, and were Europa League runners-up.

In Alonso’s third season, Leverkusen trail Bayern by eight points with four games left.

Carro said he wants Alonso to see out his contract, which runs until next season, and hopes he will extend it.

“He’s fully involved and integrated into the preparations,” Carro said.

“If, in the end, there’s interest from another club and he’s interested, we have a relationship that would have to be discussed. It’s not our wish, but we’re clear that the decision has to be made within three or four weeks; we can’t wait until the end of the season.”