Real Madrid Faces Significant Release Clause to Secure Xabi Alonso as Potential Ancelotti Successor

As speculation grows around the potential departure of Carlo Ancelotti from Real Madrid at the end of the season, the club is already considering candidates to succeed him. One prominent name in the mix is Bayer Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso, who enjoyed a five-year stint as a player at Real Madrid. However, luring Alonso back to Santiago Bernabeu might come with a hefty price tag.

According to Suddeutsche Zeitung (via Tribuna), Real Madrid would need to pay a substantial fee ranging from €15 million to €18 million to trigger Alonso’s release clause at Bayer Leverkusen, facilitating his departure from the German club.

Rumors linking Alonso to the Real Madrid managerial position have circulated for months, with the Spaniard making significant strides since taking over at Bayer Leverkusen midway through the previous season. Under his guidance, Leverkusen secured a 6th-place finish in the Bundesliga and reached the semi-finals of the UEFA Europa League, a remarkable achievement considering the team’s precarious position upon his arrival.

Presently, Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen leads the Bundesliga table by two points, maintaining an unbeaten record in the current season. As Real Madrid contemplates its managerial future, the potential pursuit of Alonso comes with a financial hurdle that the club must weigh against the prospect of securing the services of a highly-regarded and successful manager.