Former FC Barcelona midfielder Ivan Rakitic believes Xabi Alonso will uplift Real Madrid to a new level, if he is given time and freedom like he had at Bayer 04 Leverkusen.
Alonso, 43, guided Leverkusen to an unprecedented unbeaten Bundesliga title in 2023/24 – the first ever in the club’s history – and also lifted the DFB Pokal and the German Super Cup.
Even though they only came second behind Bayern Munich this season, Los Blancos were impressed and opted to bring in Alonso to replace Carlo Ancelotti.
Rakitic, who played against Alonso during his time with Sevilla, believes the former Real and Liverpool midfielder is destined for great things at the Santiago Bernabeu.
“I think it’s going to be interesting to see. We all agree that we expect a very different Madrid with Xabi Alonso,” he told iDiski Times‘ David Kappel during a video conference.
“Especially because of his way of understanding football. I think he’s going to be a very different coach to Ancelotti, that’s not to say better or worse, just different.
“But seeing how Leverkusen has played or the evolution that has taken place in the team at Leverkusen, it’s also obvious that there is going to be different coaching at Real Madrid.
“We will see how can bring his idea about football to Madrid; I think Madrid will see a major leap in quality next year because my opinion is that Xabi Alonso is already one of the best coaches in the world.
“Not just because of his understanding of the game but the way he manages a group – I’ve heard a lot of fantastic things about him from Germany about his human quality and that can make a difference.
“I hope he’ll have as much freedom at Real Madrid as he had at Leverkusen. In the end [a stronger Real] will be good for football, even though he is with Barca’s rivals.
“But I wish him the best of luck and I’m sure that he will able to give us great football.”
Rakitic himself won 13 titles with FC Barcelona, including four LaLiga trophies.
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