Agreement with the new manager was already in place at Real Madrid right after Arsenal defeat | OneFootball

According to a report from MARCA, it has come to light that Real Madrid secured the arrival of Xabi Alonso as the next head coach shortly after the club’s Champions League elimination at the hands of Arsenal.

While nothing was made public right away, both Carlo Ancelotti and the Real Madrid board agreed that it was time to prepare for a transition, one that would be done with mutual respect and dignity.

Ancelotti and the club decided to focus all attention on securing the La Liga title before announcing anything, but behind closed doors, a farewell was planned.

The Italian manager has long been linked to the Brazilian national team job, and now it is all but confirmed that he will leave in June to take charge of Brazil until the 2026 World Cup.

Xabi Alonso to sign three-year deal

Alonso, who is set to sign a three-year contract, is no stranger to the Bernabeu. As a former midfielder for the club, he understands the demands and the culture of Real Madrid.

Xabi Alonso will be Real Madrid’s new coach. (Photo by Daniel Kopatsch/Getty Images)

While his appointment is now a done deal, one area still up in the air is the make-up of his coaching staff. There are questions about the future of Antonio Pintus, the club’s fitness coach, who is officially a club employee and not part of Ancelotti’s personal staff.

A new fitness coach has already arrived, but there are concerns after this season’s less-than-stellar physical performance from the squad.

Eyes on Club World Cup

Real Madrid also have their eyes on the upcoming Club World Cup, which they don’t want to treat as just another tournament. Initially, it was difficult to imagine anyone other than Ancelotti leading the team into that competition.

But given the timing of his Brazil move, a short-term solution may be needed. Santiago Solari has been mentioned as a potential interim option before Alonso takes full control.

The biggest concern now is the tight schedule. The final of the FIFA World Cup will likely take place just weeks before pre-season begins in late July.

That leaves very little time to regroup and plan for the next campaign. It’s clear that next season will start under pressure, but with Alonso stepping in and big decisions already being made, Real Madrid are hoping for a smooth transition into a new era.