Pep Guardiola sends message to Xabi Alonso ahead of Real Madrid role | OneFootball

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has sent his best wishes to former colleague and now the new Real Madrid manager, Xabi Alonso.

Alonso will take over from Carlo Ancelotti – who has been announced as the new Brazil National Team manager – as Real Madrid boss to launch a new era in the Spanish capital after a difficult season for the Galacticos.

Real Madrid crashed out of the UEFA Champions League at the quarter-final stage after being convincingly beaten by Arsenal in both legs of the tie to a 5-1 aggregate score, underpinning the need for a fresh philosophy on the touchline.

Bayer Leverkusen have risen as a force to be reckoned with in Germany after Alonso led the club to Bundesliga glory in the 2023-24 season – a year in which the club went unbeaten on all fronts until their 3-0 UEFA Europa League final loss to Atalanta.

Real Madrid have announced the signing of Trent Alexander-Arnold from Liverpool on a free transfer and have secured the arrival of the 26-year-old in time for the FIFA Club World Cup with a fee of €10 million paid to the newly-crowned Premier League champions.

More signings are in the offing for the European heavyweights, who will benefit from a new face on the touchline, with Alonso representing a significant coup for the board amidst interest from some of Europe’s best clubs who have been impressed with the Spaniard’s work in Germany.

Manchester City have faced Real Madrid in the knockout stages of the UEFA Champions League five times in the last six years so the laws of probability and combinatorics are likely to see these two clubs continue their European rivalry into the coming seasons.

Speaking to reporters in Spain whilst in attendance at a charity golf tournament, Mancheser City manager Pep Guardiola was keen to send a message of support and best wishes to the newly-appointed Real Madrid manager.

“He (Alonso) showed at Leverkusen that he’s a great coach. He went unbeaten for a year, losing only the Europa League final against Atalanta,” Guardiola said, as relayed by SPORT.

“He (Alonso) knows the club (Real Madrid), he’s been to Madrid and knows the battles you have to fight. He’s excited. I have respect for him and wish him the best.”

Having worked with Alonso during his time managing Bayern Munich, Guardiola is no stranger to his compatriot’s managerial acumen and expects Alonso to be a huge success at the latter’s former club.

“I’m eager to see how he (Alonso) does. I was with him for a year-and-a-half and I have great memories and a good friendship,” Guardiola finished.