Carlo Ancelotti names Liverpool favourite as next Real Madrid manager

Carlo Ancelotti believes Xabi Alonso has all the qualities required to be a future Real Madrid manager.

Alonso, who is currently in charge of Bayer Leverkusen, has been heavily linked with the Real job this season, as it is being widely claimed that Ancelotti is set to leave the Santiago Bernabeu next summer.

As well as being linked with the La Liga giants, Alonso has also been named as a possible successor to Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool. The midfielder made 143 appearances for the Reds during his five years at Anfield.

The Spaniard has coached Leverkusen to a flying start in the Bundesliga and has last year's Europa League semi-finalists second in the table behind Bayern Munich after 11 games. And asked about Alonso replacing him at the Santiago Bernabeu, Ancelotti threw his backing behind the 42-year-old.

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Speaking at a press conference on Saturday, he said: “Xabi Alonso? He can be a future Real Madrid manager, without doubt.

“He can do this job; he has all 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."

Bayer Leverkusen CEO Fernando Carro, speaking last month, denied the existence of a clause in Alonso's contract that would allow him to become the next Liverpool manager.

He said: "No, but you don't need a clause. We have a very, very good relationship with Xabi and he knows we are a serious club.

"And at the end of the day, we're not going to force someone to stay if he doesn't want to stay. We want him to feel so happy and so good with us that he really only wants to stay and this is our objective.