“Xabi Alonso won’t be able to say no to Real Madrid”
Leverkusen’s Aleix García spoke about his current manager, who has repeatedly been linked with a move to Madrid.
Aleix García was one of the standout players last season with Girona, which earned him a move to Bayer Leverkusen at the request of Xabi Alonso.
Now, the midfielder reflects on what it’s like to work with the Spanish coach in an interview with Mundo Deportivo: “Having been a player himself, he really understands the dynamics of the locker room and how to connect with players on a personal level. He talks to us about everything, not just soccer. He’s a very competitive coach and a great person.”
He also commented on the rumoured interest from Real Madrid in Xabi Alonso: “I don’t know if it will happen, but it’s clear he’s showing he’s at a high level. Everyone’s talking about it, but I see him very calm here. If that opportunity comes, I’m sure he won’t be able to say no, but I hope he stays with us.”
Xabi Alonso's time at Liverpool was special ❤️#UCL pic.twitter.com/THYz6euUob
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) November 4, 2024
‘There were calls' with Barcelona
The midfielder was on Barça’s radar, but the move to the Catalan club didn’t materialize: “Yes, there was a lot of talk. If it didn’t happen, it’s because they weren’t 100% convinced or something else went wrong.
“There were calls. It’s nice that people from Barça contacted my agent, but if it didn’t happen, it wasn’t meant to be, and I’m happy with the step I took.”
Aleix García concluded by discussing his transition to Germany: “When you move to a new country and culture, it always takes a bit of time to adapt, but with Xabi Alonso as the coach and Spanish being spoken in the Leverkusen locker room, it’s been easier. Plus, my good level of German helps me interact with the rest of the team.”
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Original article written by Daniel Peinado, translated with the assistance of AI and edited by Joe Brennan.
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