12 Jan 2026 17:28:23
Crickey. Xabi Alonso has left Real Madrid.
Do you think this will have heads turning on our board?
12 Jan 2026 17:44:17
It must do. he was the number one target. He can unlock the wirtz and frimpong partnership.
12 Jan 2026 17:36:58
Hope he isn't off to Man United ?.
12 Jan 2026 17:39:54
Surely a little chat about his future plans at the very least.
12 Jan 2026 17:40:23
Can you imagine if we don't go for Alonso and he takes the Man Utd role, then we don't try to sign Guehi who ends up Arsenal or Man City, and no defender is signed!
Let's hope none of the above happens and LFC make some sensible moves.
12 Jan 2026 17:45:24
Good question. He was are number choice before we appointed Slot. If he does want to the job maybe more likely at the end of the season than mid season?
12 Jan 2026 17:52:53
Alonso won't manage Manchester United. If he does he's basically closing the door to ever managing Liverpool.
12 Jan 2026 17:52:55
Here we go!
12 Jan 2026 17:56:48
Well the no1 target is now available let's ser.
12 Jan 2026 17:59:22
Interesting to see former red, Alvaro Arbeloa taking over at Real.
12 Jan 2026 17:59:55
Id happily wait until summer for him. Now he got Madrid out of his system i think in his mind and heart we could be his one and only long term. I think a few months of a reset would benefit him. Our only compeitition would be city but i think we are safe with his connection to the club.
Plus Pep won't go out with an L to his apprentice. He will want to win the lot and go on his terms.
On the otherhand, you get him in now and you can run potential January transfer by him (which i think we need) he gets a few bonus months with the players before next season. Interesting.
12 Jan 2026 18:01:48
24 wins from 34 games at Real is pretty bad.
12 Jan 2026 18:07:02
Cant see him moving till the summer myself. give him a bit of time to analyse us,
12 Jan 2026 18:08:28
I imagine he'd have a preference for Liverpool or Bayern Munich. I'd personally give him the rest of the season to bed in and then at least he'd be able to hit the ground running for next season especially given with the World Cup the preseason will be short.
12 Jan 2026 18:10:43
Forgive me for not remembering the answer to this and not having the energy to RTFP when there will be about a thousand relevant ones.
How seriously did the club pursue XA when Klopp announced he was off? Was he first choice, second choice after Slot, thought to need more experience under his belt (which he now has), or what?
12 Jan 2026 18:21:15
I think that could happen Ron.
12 Jan 2026 18:37:49
Take over Liverpool and beat Madrid in the final of the CL.
Would be magical.
I wouldn't expect any movement till summer though although I imagine someone from our recruitment will be meeting him for a few lunch beers in Spain somewhere.
12 Jan 2026 18:43:48
Nobody in their right mind would want to manage United. City, on the other hand….
12 Jan 2026 18:52:26
As much as we we all loved Alonso what about the prospect of having Luis Enrique! He has said he's leaving PSG so maybe?
12 Jan 2026 18:54:53
Hold on here. Whilst I'm a big fan of Xabi the player, he couldn't get a tune out of one of the most, if not the most gifted football squad on the planet. They were tactically a shambles and it seems he was unable to manage the egos there, or get them to play the attacking football demanded by the fans. I've watched RM a few times this season and the players looked completely disorganised at times whilst the crowd roared them on to attack. There forwards, apart from Mbappe were out of sync, their midfield porous and their defence at times a shambles.
Does any of this sound familiar?
12 Jan 2026 19:00:17
He is being linked with United this evening. Even if he doesn't come to us surely he wouldn't go there.
12 Jan 2026 18:13:19
Is Xabi that good a coach? Yes, he did really well in Germany, but some on here refer to it as a pub league. He's struggled a bit at Real, but that can be a poisoned chalice.
Ed01, could you do a review pretty please?
{Ed001's Note - do you mean a profile? If so yes, he is on the list for you mate.}
12 Jan 2026 19:31:00
Why not Hugo. They are a shambles, but still one of the biggest clubs in world football. They are also managerless right now.
Also, I think Slot will be here until the end of his contract.
12 Jan 2026 19:18:37
I back Slot but i also love Xabi Alonso. "if"slot was replaced i'd want it to be xabi. What'd happen if Slot wins the Champions League though?
12 Jan 2026 19:11:02
Some of the stories I'm hearing are interesting. The RM players never felt like they had to listen to him and ownership never really backed him against the players.
Sounds a bit familiar from the rumors thrown round.
12 Jan 2026 20:12:41
Ed01, I did mean a profile (long day). Thank you!
12 Jan 2026 22:39:51
@KBL, United have had 8 managers in the last 10 years (9 if you count Fletcher), with Carrick soon to make it 10. It's pointless being a manager at United with the Glazer / Ineos money grabbing sh#t show in full swing.