Jurgen Klopp confirms Real Madrid stance after Xabi Alonso exit – ‘People messaged me’

Former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has played down the possibility of taking over as Real Madrid manager following Xabi Alonso’s departure

Jurgen Klopp has seemingly suggested he is not interested in becoming Real Madrid manager after confirming he had received contact about the job following Xabi Alonso’s departure. However, it did not come directly from the La Liga giants.

Ex-Liverpool midfielder Alonson left his position at the Bernabeu by mutual consent after only half a season on Monday evening. His former Reds team-mate, Alvaro Arbeloa, who had been the Real Madrid Castilla manager, was immediately confirmed as his replacement.

Klopp has long been linked with the Real Madrid job throughout his career, but has repeatedly insisted he currently has no desire to return to the dugout following his own departure from Liverpool in the summer of 2024.

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Following Alonso’s exit from the Bernabeu, Klopp, who was appearing on ServusTV Onwas asked whether his phone had already been ringing.

And the German was quick to defend the Spaniard as he offered his thoughts on the situation.

“It actually has (been ringing) – though not from Madrid,” he admitted. “But yes, there were definitely a few people who felt they had to contact me directly about it.

“First of all, I think it’s another sign that something isn’t quite right there at the moment.

“If Xabi Alonso, who over the last two years in Leverkusen has shown what an outstanding coaching talent he is – and I think at his age and with the number of jobs he’s had, you can say that — is then forced to leave Madrid just six months later, it shows a few things.

“On the one hand, it shows that nowadays there’s no time anymore.

“On the other, the expectations at Real Madrid are obviously enormous. To make a decision like that in the heat of the moment, after losing a cup final to Barcelona yesterday, says a lot.

“I think we’d already been hearing rumours for a while.

“And now – I don’t know if that’s where your question was going – but this has absolutely nothing to do with me, and it didn’t trigger anything for me either, which would probably have been the follow-up question.

“I was surprised, that’s true – genuinely surprised. Then a few people messaged me, and I replied with various emojis.”

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