Better Than Pedri and Rodri – Xabi Alonso Determined to Sign This Star for Real Madrid at Any Cost
Xabi Alonso has officially parted ways with Bayer Leverkusen and is now fully focused on his next challenge: taking over as head coach of Real Madrid after the Club World Cup in the United States. He is already laying out plans for the 2025–26 season, aiming to bring the team back to the top and challenge for all major titles.
Alonso is working closely with club president Florentino Pérez, CEO José Ángel Sánchez, and sporting director Juni Calafat to strengthen the squad—especially after a season that was heavily affected by injuries.
The first signings expected under Alonso’s leadership include Dean Huyssen, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Álvaro Carreras, though more additions are certainly on the way.
During a press conference following his departure from Leverkusen, Alonso hinted at bringing players from his former team, saying, “I can’t promise I won’t bring some Leverkusen players with me.” This was widely interpreted as a reference to German midfielder Florian Wirtz, a long-standing target for Real Madrid.
Both Pérez and Sánchez are known to rate Wirtz highly, alongside other midfield options like Martín Zubimendi, Angelo Stiller, and Tijjani Reijnders.
Alonso is reportedly urging the club’s leadership to prioritize the signing of Wirtz, a player he deeply admires and believes would be a major upgrade to Madrid’s midfield.
According to sources, José Ángel Sánchez and other top officials have already been made aware of Alonso’s strong preference. Alonso described Wirtz as “the best in his position” and said, “He gives us exactly what we’re missing… he could win the Ballon d’Or,” in what many saw as a direct push for the club to act.
The main hurdle in signing Wirtz is Bayern Munich, which is said to be prepared to go all out to secure the player. It’s becoming increasingly clear that Wirtz will not stay at Leverkusen for long, and Madrid’s board knows they need to act quickly.
To make the deal happen, Real Madrid is exploring financial strategies beyond the standard transfer budget—and relying on Alonso’s personal influence to help convince his former protégé to choose the Santiago Bernabéu.
