Real Madrid News
Former Real Madrid coach backs Xabi Alonso, rules out return – ‘A fantastic coach and a marvellous person’
Former Real Madrid assistant coach Davide Ancelotti has publicly thrown his support behind current head coach Xabi Alonso, offering warm words about both the man and the project during a recent appearance on El Chiringuito TV.
Ancelotti, who remains closely connected to the club despite stepping away from the Bernabeu bench, made it clear where his loyalties lie when discussing his relationship with Real Madrid and Alonso.
Speaking openly, he said, “I am a fan of Real Madrid and a friend of Xabi Alonso.”
The former assistant did not stop there. He went on to praise Alonso not just as a tactician, but as a human being, highlighting the respect he has for the current coach leading Los Blancos.
“Xabi Alonso is a fantastic coach and a marvellous person. I wish him and Real Madrid the best.”
On Vinicius Jr.
Ancelotti was present at the Santiago Bernabeu for Real Madrid’s emphatic 5-1 victory over Real Betis, a match that showcased the team’s attacking power but also reignited debate around the reception received by Vinicius Jr.
The Brazilian winger was once again whistled by sections of the crowd when substituted, something that had already occurred in the previous home game against Sevilla.
Asked about the reaction from the stands, Ancelotti chose to strike a balanced tone.
Rather than criticising the supporters outright, he defended the broader fanbase by pointing out that the whistles did not represent everyone inside the stadium.
“Not all of them, not all of them. [booed Vinicius].”
When pressed further on the issue, Ancelotti drew a firm line, making it clear he did not wish to fuel controversy around the situation.
“The fans whistling at Vinicius Jr.? About this matter, I won’t speak, I won’t speak about it.”
No return possible
The conversation later returned to the result itself, with Ancelotti adopting a lighter tone while reflecting on Real Madrid’s dominant performance.
Smiling, he joked about his presence at the stadium, saying, “We won 5-1? Of course, the luck charm is here (smiles). I’m happy to bring luck to Real Madrid.”
Since leaving the club, Ancelotti has explored opportunities elsewhere, including a short spell at Botafogo, where he worked between July and December.
Despite that experience, he made it clear that a return to Real Madrid in a coaching capacity is not something he is considering at this stage of his career.
“Taking over Real Madrid? No, I’m in a different stage of my career. I’m a Real Madrid fan and a friend of Xabi Alonso,” he said.
Real Madrid opted to renew Antonio Rudiger’s contract this past summer to keep him at the club for one more season.
The 33-year-old veteran defender, though, has not been performing at his best, with physical problems taking their toll and age starting to catch up with him.
As such, the expectation is that Los Blancos will not extend his contract again when his current one expires on 30 June 2027.
Tottenham eye Antonio Rudiger
And, according to reports relayed by AS, Premier League giants Tottenham Hotspur are plotting a free-transfer swoop to sign Rudiger in the summer of next year.
The north London club are understood to be keen on reinforcing their backline next year and see the German defender as an option, given his experience in the Premier League and the fact that he would be available for free in the summer.
So far this season, Rudiger has played only five games for Real Madrid, amounting to a total of 396 minutes.
The 33-year-old has even chipped in with two goals, including the all-important winner in the 4-3 comeback victory over AS Roma on Wednesday night.
Time to move on?
Despite Rudiger being a hugely respected figure in the Real Madrid locker room, he is currently the third-choice centre-back for Jose Mourinho.
After all, summer signing Ibrahima Konate and Dean Huijsen have been preferred by the manager so far in the new season.
Moreover, with Eder Militao set to return imminently after a lengthy injury layoff, Rudiger’s game-time could be impacted further.
Given the situation and factoring in Real Madrid’s plans to sign another centre-back next summer, it is pretty much evident that Rudiger does not feature in the club’s plans for beyond this season.
As such, a separation of ways seems pretty likely when his contract expires, and Tottenham are now positioning themselves as early suitors to sign Rudiger as a free agent in 2027.
