Xabi Alonso has already teased Liverpool return as Real Madrid manager sacked | Football | Sport

Xabi Alonso has already hinted at a potential future return to Liverpool as the axed Real Madrid manager weighs up his options having been made unemployed. The Spaniard was ruthlessly dismissed on Monday night, merely 24 hours following Real’s Spanish Super Cup loss to arch-rivals Barcelona. The sacking arrives just eight months into his spell at the Bernabeu, having rejoined the club he played for from Bayer Leverkusen. Alonso masterminded an extraordinary unbeaten title-winning campaign, securing Leverkusen’s first ever Bundesliga crown, as well as winning the DFB Pokal and German Super Cup in the same season.

He also guided the team to the Europa League final, though they fell short against Atalanta. Prior to his Madrid return, Alonso was heavily tipped for a switch to Liverpool, the club where he enjoyed a distinguished playing career at Anfield. When questioned about potentially managing the Merseyside giants down the line, Alonso kept the door ajar.

Speaking last month, he remarked: “Of course there is a bond with my former club, but for now this is my place. future, you never know what might happen.”

Alonso’s name was also in the frame for the Liverpool position following Jurgen Klopp‘s departure. However, he made clear that such a move was never realistic.

He continued: “At that time I was focused, I had a big thing with the players and we were really focused on that.”

Current Reds boss Arne Slot has previously expressed admiration for Alonso’s abilities. Before a Champions League encounter between Liverpool and Real Madrid back in November, the Dutchman stated: “That he is special, that’s clear.

“If you join a club languishing at the bottom of the table and with the same squad you lift them right up without splashing significant cash that summer, only bringing in one or two quality players, and they had the season [that they had].

“They only lost the final of the Europa League, it tells you that he is special. What it is that makes him special is difficult for me to say because I haven’t faced him yet and I haven’t worked with him.

“What might be the situation is that he’s worked with very good managers in the past, he was a player with incredible insight in the game, he knew when to be where and he played at the highest levels so he knows and understands how these players feel in certain moments.

“That probably contributes to what makes him a good manager. How he is exactly so special? The best way to find that out is to talk to the players he has worked with and I haven’t done that yet.”