Real Madrid has closed all the pending details to ensure the return of Xabi Alonso, this time as a technical director. After days of expectation, new details of the contract that will link the former player with the white bench are known: Two fixed seasons and an optional third, in a formula that reflects the modern and pragmatic vision of the Basque coach.
The link, which will officially begin June 1, 2025, It will run until June 30, 2028but with a key exception. The third season is not automatic, but will depend on the mutual evaluation between the club and the coach, based on the fulfillment of objectives and the development of the sports project.
This type of contract is not common in Real Madrid, but it has been an express application of Alonso. The former mediocampist believes that contractual flexibility allows him to work with greater motivation and clarity, without compromising in the long term if the conditions are not the ideal for any of the parties.
Another important aspect was the Negotiation with Bayer LeverkusenClub with which Alonso had a current contract until 2026. As Real Madrid was revealed, it had to pay 8 million euros To free the coach, a figure that reaffirms the club’s strong commitment to his new coach.
In addition to the contract, the details of the Technical Staff that will accompany Xabi Alonsowhich will include several of its closest collaborators during their stage in Germany. The work team is expected to be presented together during the official act of Monday, May 26 in the Real Madrid City.
As for the salary, although there is no official confirmation by the club, the specialized portal ‘Registered Marketing’ estimates that Alonso will win between 7 and 9 million euros per season. This places it in a high salary strip, although below what previous coaches such as Zinedine Zidane or José Mourinho perceived at the time.
The formula of two fixed and an optional years could become a trend in future hiring of the white club, since it represents a balance between commitment and continuous evaluation. For Alonso, this structure also means freedom and responsibility in equal parts.
The announcement has been well received by both the fans and by the specialized media, who see in Xabi Alonso a modern, competitive profile and with strong roots in the Madrid DNA. His stage as a player left his mark; Now, as a technician, the challenge is even greater.