FC Barcelona boss Hansi Flick has broken his silence on the appointment of Xabi Alonso as the new manager of Real Madrid, offering respectful and encouraging words for the former Bayer Leverkusen coach while also subtly highlighting the challenge he now faces in Spain.

“I like his philosophy and his success in Germany is very positive,” Flick told reporters this weekend.
“He built a very high-level team and helped several players improve. I’m happy to see him in LaLiga.”

The German tactician also confirmed that he had spoken with Alonso “several times” during his time in the Bundesliga, and expressed enthusiasm about their renewed rivalry in Spain.

A tough act to follow after Barça’s domination

Xabi Alonso arrives at Real Madrid after one of the worst seasons in recent history for the club — one where Barcelona won all four Clásicos and claimed all three domestic titles:

• LaLiga : Barça beat Madrid 4-0 at the Bernabéu and 4-3 in Montjuic, eventually winning the league.
• Copa del Rey Final : A dramatic 3-2 win for Barcelona sealed another trophy.
• Supercopa de España : A stunning 5-2 victory in Saudi Arabia completed the treble.

In total, Barcelona scored 17 goals and conceded only 7 in Clásico matches across the 2024/25 season — a remarkable stat that highlights just how much ground Alonso will need to make up.

The next Clásico: Flick vs Alonso

While the full 2025/26 LaLiga calendar hasn’t been released yet, the first Clásico between Flick and Alonso is expected to take place between September and October.

Before that, Xabi Alonso will officially debut at the helm of Real Madrid during the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup in the United States, starting June 18 against Al Hilal in Miami.

Flick welcomed Alonso to the league with kind words — but from now on, the rivalry continues with new faces, and new pressure on the Madrid bench to respond.