Carlo Ancelotti knows where Xabi Alonso will end up as Liverpool eye Jurgen Klopp replacement

Carlo Ancelotti has tipped Xabi Alonso to take over from him as Real Madrid boss in the future.

Former Liverpool favourite Alonso is the frontrunner to replace Jurgen Klopp when his nine-year Anfield reign comes to an end this summer.

Ancelotti had been tipped to leave Madrid in 2024 but signed a contract extension in December, taking his spell in charge of Los Blancos to 2026.

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Alonso, meanwhile, played 143 times for Liverpool and left a big impression on the fans and the club. He's currently impressing as the manager of Bayer Leverkusen, with the team sitting pretty top of the Bundesliga, five points clear of Bayern Munich, who they beat on Saturday.

When asked about the possibility of Alonso taking over at Real Madrid, Ancelotti was all for it. In a press conference, Ancelotti said: "Xabi Alonso? He can be a future Real Madrid manager, without a doubt. He can do this job; he has all the qualities to be a good manager. I like him and how he coaches his team. He's one of the managers I like the most."

Meanwhile, Bayer Leverkusen CEO, Fernando Carro, has denied any clause in Alonso's contract that would let him become the next manager for Liverpool or Real Madrid. He stressed the strong bond between the club and Alonso, saying they want him to be happy and won't force him to stay if he doesn't want to.

While there's no written agreement letting Alonso leave for a former club, Carro admitted that sometimes agreements can exist without being on paper. If Liverpool do come knocking in 2024, it could be up to Alonso to decide if he's ready for the next step.