According to Sky Germany, Carlo Ancelotti is set to vacate the position of Real Madrid head coach after the Copa del Rey final regardless of the outcome with the clash against arch-rivals Barcelona for the trophy. The Spanish giants have already made contact with Inaki Ibanez, the agent who represents Bayer Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso, over the possibility of the former midfielder succeeding the Italian tactician in the Santiago Bernabeu dugout.
However, there has been no contact between the two clubs as of yet, and Alonso himself refused to commit either way during his post-match press conference after Leverkusen’s 1-1 draw away to St. Pauli on Sunday.
Real were already credited with interest in Alonso a year ago, with Liverpool and Bayern Munich – two more clubs whose colours he wore as a player – also linked at the time. He stayed at the BayArena then, as Ancelotti kept his job and Arne Slot and Vincent Kompany took over at Anfield and the Allianz Arena, respectively. Both Slot and Kompany are now on course to win the league titles at their respective clubs, while in Madrid they apparently feel the time has come for a change after Los Blancos suffered Champions League elimination in the quarterfinals.