Jurgen Klopp feelings are clear with Real Madrid boss Xabi Alonso on ‘thin ice’

Jurgen Klopp’s name has featured in early debates surrounding the Real Madrid job as reports from Spain suggest Xabi Alonso faces the sack if Los Blancos lose to Manchester City

Former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has already stated categorically that he has no immediate plans to return to management. The 57-year-old is being touted for the top position at Real Madrid, currently occupied by fellow ex-Red Xabi Alonso.

Spanish media reports suggest Alonso’s grip on his role at the Santiago Bernabeu is loosening just seven months into his reign. Marca claims that last weekend’s 2-0 loss to Celta Vigo – which left Los Blancos trailing Barcelona by four points in La Liga – sparked emergency discussions behind closed doors.

The former Liverpool midfielder is reportedly facing a make-or-break Champions League clash against Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City on Wednesday night to avoid the axe.

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Should a mid-season managerial change occur in the Spanish capital, Klopp’s name is being mentioned prominently in preliminary conversations.

The prospect of reuniting with Trent Alexander-Arnold might prove tempting, though Real Madrid chiefs could face disappointment given his recent comments about returning to the dugout more than 18 months after choosing to depart Liverpool.

“I’m 58, that means I could make the decision in a few years, I don’t know,” the German revealed on The Diary of a CEO podcast in October, keeping open the possibility of managing once more.

“Do I have to make the decision today? Then I will not coach again,” Klopp finally declared. “But thank God, I don’t have to do that. I can just see what the future brings.”

As 2025 dawned, Klopp took on a new role as Head of Global Football for the Red Bull group, a departure from his previous football management positions. The ex-Liverpool gaffer has maintained that he is content in his current post.

On another note, Alonso, under pressure to deliver results in Madrid, was quizzed ahead of the clash with City about whether managing in the Premier League piques his interest.

The question was posed specifically in relation to Liverpool, given the mounting criticism faced by current Reds boss Arne Slot over the team’s performance since September.

“Of course there is a bond with my former club, but for now this [Real Madrid] is my place,” Alonso replied. “In future, you never know what might happen.”

Meanwhile, Slot silenced critics with a narrow 1-0 triumph over Inter Milan at San Siro. This victory has bolstered Liverpool’s prospects of securing a direct spot in the Champions League knockout stages with two rounds of matches remaining.

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