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6 hours ago
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Xabi Alonso is all set to become the next Real Madrid manager as the Carlo Ancelotti era comes to an end in the Spanish capital.
The Spaniard has proven his credentials with Bayer Leverkusen as he guided them to the domestic double in Germany last season. His men dethroned the dominance of Bayern and won the Bundesliga unbeaten.
Meanwhile Los Blancos desperately needed a change after missing out on all the trophies this season. They reached the final of the Copa del Rey and also gave a tough fight to Barcelona in the La Liga. But in the end, they fell short of Blaugrana on both occasions.
However, with Alonso, Madrid are all set to go through a rebuild with the Spaniard making wholesale changes. As per reports, Real Madrid have fast-tracked Alonso's arrival as they are targeting the FIFA Club World Cup in June.
As per reports on El Nacional, he has already demanded the Leverkusen duo of Alex Grimaldo and Jonathan Tah at the Spanish capital.
Both have been influential players for the club during his tenure, and therefore, he wants to bring his trusted soldiers from Leverkusen to Madrid for a smooth transition into a new era.
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Will the Leverkusen duo join Real Madrid?
Alonso is known for his 3-4-3 system, and therefore, he wants players who have proven themselves under his tutelage. Therefore, the 43-year-old has set his sights on Grimaldo and Tah, who have been integral players for him at Leverkusen.
While Tah is out of contract this summer, and will be one of the most wanted defenders in the transfer window. The 29-year-old has also held talks with Barcelona, while Bayern Munich and Manchester United are also interested in the German defender.
Tah has been with Leverkusen for a decade and has accumulated 400 appearances for the team. If he moved to Madrid, he would pair up with his compatriot Antonio Rudiger and may form a strong partnership in the heart of the defence.
Meanwhile, Alex Grimaldo's career kicked off after he joined Leverkusen in 2023. The Spanish full-back, who thrived in a wide attacking role, scored 10 goals and provided 13 assists in the 2023/24 Bundesliga.
Grimaldo is a Barcelona youth academy graduate, but he never made an appearance for the Blaugrana senior team. He has netted two goals and seven assists in 30 games in the 2024/25 Bundesliga.
The Spaniard is known for his attacking instincts and his ability to put in threatening crosses from the left. He could be viewed as an upgrade over Ferland Mendy and Fran Garcia, especially in Alonso's system where fullbacks need to contribute in attack.
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