Carlo Ancelotti gives his verdict on Xabi Alonso amid rumours former Liverpool midfielder is poised to replace him as Real Madrid manager

Carlo Ancelotti has hailed Xabi Alonso arsenic 'one of the champion coaches successful the world' and insists the erstwhile midfielder has each the credentials to instrumentality implicit astatine Real Madrid, amid increasing speculation that helium volition beryllium succeeded by the Bayer Leverkusen boss.

Ancelotti is expected to measurement down astatine the extremity of the play aft a decorated 2nd spell successful complaint of Los Blancos. Sunday's travel to Barcelona is the archetypal of his last 4 matches, with his departure apt to beryllium confirmed erstwhile the run concludes.

Alonso, who played for some Real Madrid and Liverpool during a glittering vocation that included Champions League triumphs with each club, announced connected Friday that helium volition permission Leverkusen this summer.

The 43-year-old is wide tipped to instrumentality to the Spanish superior successful a managerial capacity, with immoderate reports adjacent suggesting helium has already verbally agreed a declaration moving until 2028.

When asked astir Alonso connected Saturday, Ancelotti told reporters: 'I've seen the quality that he's leaving Leverkusen, wherever he's done a fantastic job. All the doors are unfastened to him due to the fact that he's shown he's 1 of the champion coaches successful the world.'

Alonso has seen his estimation soar since taking complaint of Leverkusen successful 2022. In his archetypal afloat play helium guided the nine to an unbeaten Bundesliga rubric and besides lifted the German Cup, securing a historical home double. While Leverkusen person not deed those aforesaid heights this season, Alonso's managerial banal remains sky-high.

'We've agreed that these past 2 games volition beryllium my last ones arsenic Bayer Leverkusen coach,' Alonso said connected Friday. 'It's not the infinitesimal to speech overmuch astir what comes next. This is simply a clip for a due farewell to the fans and to those who person supported maine during an unbelievable 3 years.'

Ancelotti volition beryllium a pugnacious enactment to follow. Across 2 spells successful complaint of Real Madrid, the 65-year-old has won 15 trophies, including 2 Champions Leagues and 2 La Liga titles.

His 2nd stint has yielded 159 wins from 230 matches, a triumph percent of 69.13 per cent. When combined with his archetypal spell from 2013 to 2015, his wide Real Madrid grounds stands astatine 348 games, 248 wins, 48 draws and 52 defeats, giving him a triumph complaint of 71.26 per cent.

Meanwhile, Alonso has overseen 138 matches astatine Bayer Leverkusen since taking complaint successful October 2022, winning 88, drafting 32 and losing conscionable 18. His triumph percent stands astatine 63.77 per cent, with a extremity quality of +160.