Guillem Balague confirms whether Xabi Alonso will be sacked at Real Madrid after Manchester City loss

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Xabi Alonso has made no secret of his wish to make a return to Liverpool and manage the club one day.The Spaniard reiterated that earlier this week as he was questioned on his Real Madrid future in the lead up to Wednesday’s clash with Manchester City.“Of course there is a bond with my former club,” Alonso said, referring specifically to Liverpool. Use the comment button on the bottom left to have your say There had been rumours in the Spanish press that Alonso could be sacked if Madrid lost to City, which they duly did, eventually being beaten 2-1 at the Bernabeu.Having led Real to only two wins from eight matches, the writing had looked to be on the wall for Alonso, potentially opening up the possibility of a move to Liverpool.

But according to journalist Guillem Balague, the 43-year-old has been given a stay of execution.Xabi Alonso is hanging on at Real MadridAlonso‘s situation feels inexorably linked to that of Arne Slot at Liverpool. Should the Real boss be handed his p45, it could expedite the Reds doing the same to Slot.Liverpool had their eye on Alonso before appointing the Dutchman as successor to Jurgen Klopp, and should he become available unexpectedly, it would ramp up the pressure on the Reds’ head coach.Photo by Dennis Agyeman / AFP7 via Getty ImagesREAD MORE: Fabrizio Romano shares what his sources are now saying about Jurgen Klopp and LiverpoolFor now, though, Balague says Alonso is going nowhere despite defeat against City.

“We know there was a meeting with the board after the Celta defeat about the future of Xabi Alonso.”Would Liverpool look to Alonso if he is sacked?This story could become irrelevant to Liverpool if Slot turns things around at Anfield. Clearly, if he can do that, the Reds will not need a new manager any time soon.However, Alonso has felt to be on a collision course with Liverpool ever since he went into management.With question marks over whether Slot is the right man in the longer term, it may make sense to look to the Bundesliga-winning boss at the end of the season, for example.There will be some supporters who would question why a manager who failed at Madrid would do anything differently at Liverpool.However, Alonso’s problems seem to stem from a failure to get his superstar players to buy into working hard for the team.