Bayern Munich applaud Xabi Alonso decision: “He’s a gent”

Bayern sports director Max Eberl spoke about the Basque coach’s decision. “It was clear to him that he would not leave Leverkusen, I know him.”

Xabi Alonso’s immediate future was settled this weekend when the Basque coach assured, in his press conference ahead of the Hoffenheim game, that he will continue on the Bayer Leverkusen bench next season. It brings to an end months of speculation - which began with Jürgen Klopp’s announcement that he will be moving on from Liverpool at the end of the season and Xabi’s name cropped up with the possibility he could return to his old club. Another club which has been heavily linked was Bayern Munich, who had the Tolosa-born coach at the top of their list.

While it hasn’t been a poor season for the German giants, it hasn’t been a spectacular one either. The team has reached the Champions League quarter final and have practically assured their place in next season’s tournament. Bayern are second in the Bundesliga but it looks like they will be deprived of a record 12 consecutive title precisely by Xabi’s Leverkusen, who are 13 points clear at the top.

However, in the Munich offices they had already assumed that their former player would not be rushing back. Who can blame him when things are going so well for him. Bayern sporting director Max Eberl said he wasn’t too surprised about Xabi’s decision to stay put and honor his contract. “It was clear to him that he would not leave Leverkusen - I know him.”

He added, “Xabi’s decision did not affect me at all because we had been looking elsewhere for a long time. Xabi is an honorable man. A gentleman. I knew him because I had already negotiated with him with ‘Gladbach when he was still in San Sebastián. That’s why it was clear to me that he