Xabi Alonso has confirmed that he is leaving Bayer Leverkusen at the end of the season, with the Spanish coach expected to join Real Madrid.
In a news conference on Friday, Alonso — who has spent three years at Leverkusen, guiding them to a historic undefeated league campaign in 2023-24 as part of a domestic double — said that he will depart after his team’s two remaining Bundesliga games.
Alonso refused to discuss his future, saying it was “not the moment,” but a Real Madrid source told ESPN on Friday that Alonso is “close” to becoming the club’s new coach, with Carlo Ancelotti expected to leave after Madrid’s last LaLiga game against Real Sociedad. 
“This week, the club and I have agreed that these two games will be my last as Bayer Leverkusen coach,” Alonso said. “It’s always about the moment, and now is the right moment to announce it. We’ve always had good, direct communication with the club, and now we have clarity.
“We want to have a proper farewell on Sunday [at home, against Borussia Dortmund]. It’s emotional, I talked to the players this morning. It’s been an unbelievable, fantastic three years, and now it’s a moment to share with the fans on Sunday … I think we can be proud of what we have achieved. We’ve been taking the club in the right direction.”
Alonso — a former Real Madrid midfielder, who began his coaching career with their academy — has long been Madrid’s preferred candidate to succeed Ancelotti.
The Italian has come under pressure after Madrid’s elimination in the Champions League quarterfinals and defeat in the Copa del Rey final, although his team go into Sunday’s Clásico at Barcelona still with a chance of winning the LaLiga title.
“After Mainz, once the season is wrapped, it will be the moment for the next thing,” Alonso said on Friday.
It is not yet clear whether Alonso would take charge of Madrid immediately, to coach them in this summer’s Club World Cup in the United States, or whether Madrid will appoint an interim coach for the tournament.
