Xabi Alonso and Bayer Leverkusen coaching staff descend on Manchester City training centre in mystery visit | OneFootball

Manchester City have welcomed Xabi Alonso and his coaching staff from Bayer Leverkusen to their training base this week, according to new information.

The latest information comes as Manchester City continue to prepare themselves for the 2025/26 season, largely centred around strengthening Pep Guardiola’s first-team squad after a hugely underwhelming campaign.

Having come into the season as the four-in-a-row Premier League winners, City now find themselves at risk of missing UEFA Champions League football for the next season by finishing outside of the English top-flight’s top-five places.

Much of that bad form has been put down to injury and fitness problems to key players throughout the season, while a decision not to rebuild an ageing squad during the last summer window has seemingly come back to bite the club.

And ahead of a key summer that will see Hugo Viana replace Txiki Begiristain as Manchester City’s director of football, there is plenty of talk around Bayer Leverkusen and the prospect of Florian Wirtz being the man to replace outgoing club legend Kevin De Bruyne.

But the latest information centred around the reigning Bundesliga champions staggeringly concerns their head coach and those that work alongside him at the BayArena, with a visit to the Etihad Stadium having taken place this week.

That is according to the information of Manchester City insider ‘FPLMaineRoad’ on X, who reveals that the City Football Academy welcomed Xabi Alonso and his coaching staff from Bayer Leverkusen on Thursday – with the reason behind their visit unknown at this stage.

Prior to Pep Guardiola signing a new Manchester City contract until the summer of 2027 last November, there had been plenty of talk that Etihad Stadium officials could turn to Alonso as a potential replacement for the legendary Catalan.

Should that interest still stand, then City would have to fend off immense competition for one of the game’s stand-out coaches, with Real Madrid believed to be the frontrunners to take on Alonso as their next boss given uncertainty around Carlo Ancelotti’s future.

For now, there is no immediate indication that Pep Guardiola would be willing to walk away from his current position as Manchester City manager despite the challenges of this season, and he remains excited by the prospect of rebuilding the squad.

However, as is often the case with players who seek exits from the Etihad Stadium and given the respect held for Guardiola, the club would likely not stand in the 54-year-old’s way should he wish to bring an early end to his new deal at the club.