Xabi Alonso does not have a release clause for his former clubs in his Bayer Leverkusen contract, but the team’s CEO says he will not be forced to stay if he ever wants to leave.
The Spaniard spent some time coaching in the youth set-up and at Real Sociedad B, but he is in his first role in management at Leverkusen and it is going very well.
Alonso took charge in October last year and after an encouraging first season, his team are top of the Bundesliga after 11 games of this campaign, winning 10 and drawing one.
Understandably he has been linked with bigger jobs as a result, including teams from his playing days, Liverpool and Real Madrid.
Reports in Germany from BILD claimed Alonso even had a release clause in his contract with Leverkusen which would allow him to join the Reds, Los Blancos or Bayern Munich, who he also played for during his incredible career.
However, Leverkusen CEO Fernando Carro has spoken out on the speculation, saying no such clause exists, but said he would not stand in his manager’s way if he did want to leave.
On whether Alonso has a release clause to join a former club, Carro told : ‘No, but you don’t need a clause. We have a very, very good relationship with Xabi and he knows we are a serious club. And at the end of the day, we’re not going to force someone to stay if he doesn’t want to stay.
‘We want him to feel so happy and so good with us that he really only wants to stay and this is our objective..
‘There is nothing on paper [allowing Alonso to leave for a former club]. But sometimes agreements that are not on paper are agreements as well.
‘We know if he needs to do a move in the future we will be able to talk with each other. And I hope we will not need to do this because he will stay and be happy at Leverkusen.’
Alonso has been linked with Liverpool, but not until the end of Jurgen Klopp’s contract in 2026, but another club may have stepped in for his services before then.
Real Madrid appear the most likely at this stage, with Carlo Ancelotti in his last season at the club and Alonso a very likely target for the summer.
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