Real Madrid eye Bayern Munich legend as their long-term Carlo Ancelotti successor

Needless to say, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid have been involved in a fair few tussles off the pitch as of late. Firstly, there was the saga linking Alphonso Davies to Real Madrid which seems to have fizzled out lately (albeit the rumours will soon return when the summer transfer window opens). Then, news broke that both clubs were interested in making Xabi Alonso their next manager.

This is no surprise, given that Xabi Alonso represented both sides when he was a player and much like his short-lived managerial career, everything he touched as a player turned into gold.

Of course, his former club Liverpool have also thrown a spanner into the works since they unsurprisingly would like to appoint him as well. As mentioned, he is thought of very highly and held in high-regard everywhere he's been.

Real Madrid eye Bayern Munich legend as their long-term Carlo Ancelotti successor

According to a new report from Mundo Deportivo, Real Madrid have made Xabi Alonso their most ideal long-term Carlo Ancelotti replacement. It is thought that club president Florentino Perez has been thinking long and hard about the long-term future of the club, with Ancelotti still under contract for a few years. When Ancelotti eventually hands over the reins, Perez wants Xabi Alonso to step in.

This isn't good news for Bayern Munich if they harboured any long-term aspiration of making Xabi Alonso theirs. After all, when Real Madrid want something, they very often stop at nothing to get it (especially with Florentino Perez as their club president).

It is a testament to Xabi Alonso that he has three of the biggest clubs in Europe fighting for his signature. Perhaps it works more in Real Madrid's favour that they are in no immediate rush to appoint Xabi, unlike Bayern Munich and Liverpool who are both on the hunt for a new manager for the 2024/25 season, with their current bosses stepping down this campaign.

Bayern Munich fans need no reminding that Xabi Alonso has one thing on his mind and that is to win the Bundesliga title this season. He is very close to guaranteeing that and if he keeps up his unbeaten record, this is all but cemented.

Currently, Bayer Leverkusen boast an incredible 23-4-0 record and they are on track to have one of the most impressive and dominant Bundesliga seasons in history. Therefore, expect more clubs to join the Xabi adoration list.

Where do you think Xabi Alonso will manage next?