A new era is about to begin on the Real Madrid bench. After a painful 4-3 defeat to Barcelona at Montjuïc — a loss that all but seals the LaLiga EA Sports title for the Catalans — the Spanish giants are preparing to announce the departure of Carlo Ancelotti and the appointment of Xabi Alonso as their new head coach.

The Italian, the most decorated manager in the club’s history with 15 trophies, will not fulfill the final year of his contract. In his place, Xabi Alonso, who recently bid farewell to Bayer Leverkusen fans, will take charge of the Madrid team starting with the upcoming Club World Cup. Club sources confirm that the announcement is imminent and that Ancelotti will be given a respectful send-off fitting of his legacy, as he prepares to possibly become the new coach of the Brazil national team.

Wirtz won’t follow Alonso to Madrid

Despite early rumors suggesting that Xabi Alonso might reunite with Florian Wirtz at Real Madrid, that possibility now seems off the table. Although the Spanish club initially showed interest in the German star, recent developments point to the 21-year-old heading to the Premier League instead of Santiago Bernabéu.

According to British media, Manchester City have reached a preliminary agreement with Bayer Leverkusen for Wirtz, with a potential fee of around €100 million. However, Bayern Munich, still in control of the situation, remain the player’s preferred destination. The Bavarian club are reportedly prepared to raise their bid to €150 million to secure Wirtz, even if it means overpaying to beat a direct domestic rival.

Another reason Madrid is stepping back from the race is due to City’s strict salary structure, which limits player wages to below what Pep Guardiola earns. In contrast, Bayern are said to be offering Wirtz a much higher salary — a key factor tipping the scales in their favor.

With Xabi Alonso now focused on reinforcing Real Madrid’s defense and showing no intention of signing his former player, it’s becoming clear that the young German star won’t be heading to Madrid any time soon. The new coach is already working with the club’s board to identify the reinforcements needed for this new chapter — one with high ambitions and a hunger for silverware.