Xabi Alonso has been one of the hottest names in football management since taking over at Bayer Leverkusen in October 2022. The former Spanish international has led the Bundesliga club to an incredible run of form, with Leverkusen currently sitting top of the table and unbeaten in 32 games in all competitions.
Alonso’s success at Leverkusen has attracted attention from some of the biggest clubs in Europe, with Liverpool and Bayern Munich both reportedly interested in making him their next manager. However, Leverkusen have made it clear that they will not make it easy for Alonso to leave.
The German club has set a release clause of between €15 million and €20 million for Alonso, a significant sum that reflects their determination to keep their manager. According to German outlet Sport1, any club interested in signing Alonso will first need to convince the Spaniard to leave Leverkusen and then pay the release clause in full.
Leverkusen’s stance is understandable. They have a talented squad that is playing some of the best football in Europe under Alonso’s leadership. The club is also in a strong financial position, meaning they are not under any pressure to sell their prized asset.
For his part, Alonso has remained focused on his job at Leverkusen. He has repeatedly stated that he is happy at the club and that he is not thinking about leaving. However, the lure of a move to a bigger club could be too much to resist, especially if Liverpool or Bayern Munich come calling.
Only time will tell whether Alonso remains at Leverkusen for the long term. However, one thing is for sure: the German club will not let him go without a fight.
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