StadiumPosts Logo
Stay upto date with notifications from Stadiumposts
Notifications can be managed in browser preferences

JURGEN KLOPP RESPONDS TO REAL MADRID JOB LINKS AFTER XABI ALONSO EXIT

Jürgen Klopp has responded to Real Madrid manager rumours! See why the Red Bull chief says "something isn't right" at the Bernabéu.

Jurgen Klopp Responds To Real Madrid Job Links After Xabi Alonso Exit
Klopp Addresses "Messages" About Vacant Real Madrid Seat On ServusTV On

Former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp is high on Real Madrid’s wish list as they look for a new manager after Xabi Alonso’s sudden exit.

Klopp, who now heads Global Soccer for Red Bull and oversees clubs like RB Leipzig and RB Salzburg, left Liverpool at the end of the 2023-24 season. Arne Slot took over and managed to win the Premier League in his very first year—a tough act to follow.

Instead of jumping straight back into management, Klopp took a break from coaching and chose a different path with Red Bull.

Now, with Alonso gone, Real Madrid are back in the market. Alonso left after Madrid lost 3-2 to Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final in Jeddah. He’d only just arrived from Bayer Leverkusen and got Madrid to the Club World Cup semi-finals, but in La Liga, they’re still four points behind Barca.

So, the rumours started flying. When Sky Germany reported that Klopp was a top target for Real, he got asked if the Spanish giants had called him. He didn’t dodge the question.

“Yeah, there were definitely a few people who reached out to me about the Real Madrid job,” Klopp told ServusTV. “Honestly, I think it just shows something isn’t quite right there at the moment. It’s got nothing to do with me and didn’t make me feel anything. I was surprised; that’s true. A few people messaged me, and I just replied with a bunch of emojis.”

Klopp didn’t hold back about the pressure managers face at Real. Alonso took over from Carlo Ancelotti—a club legend, adored by fans, and a three-time Champions League winner. But six months in, Alonso is already out.

“If Xabi Alonso, who’s really shown what a talented coach he is at Leverkusen—and at his age, with the jobs he’s had, you can say that—gets forced out of Madrid after just six months, it says a lot,” Klopp went on. “First, it shows there’s no time anymore. Second, the expectations at Real are huge. Deciding that right after losing a final to Barcelona says a lot. Plus, we’d all heard the rumours for a while.”

Alonso’s coaching career started at Bayer Leverkusen. He led them to their first-ever Bundesliga title, going unbeaten the entire season. Bayern Munich derailed their title defence the next year, and Alonso moved to Madrid.

Now, former teammate Alvaro Arbeloa has stepped up from Madrid’s Castilla side to take charge.

Alonso admitted things didn’t work out. “It hasn’t turned out as we would have liked. Coaching Real Madrid has been both an honour and a responsibility. I thank the club, the players, and above all, the fans and the Madridista community for their trust and support. I leave with respect, gratitude, and the pride of having done my best.”

FUTURE CORE: HOW JOAO NEVES AND VITINHA COULD REBUILD REAL MADRID’S MIDFIELD

Real Madrid eye Joao Neves: Read about the €160m PSG raid, Vitinha’s €100m clause, and the shock Courtois news regarding Trent.

top-news
Real Madrid Face A €260m Bill For PSG’s Duo

Real Madrid aren’t just eyeing Vitinha from PSG anymore; they’re now interested in bringing in his teammate Joao Neves as well. That’s according to a new report, which also says that Madrid hasn't lost sight of Rodri from Manchester City, even if that deal looks tough.

Madrid has been after Vitinha for a while. He’s the kind of midfielder who can dictate play and control the game from the centre. Lately, Spanish media have been buzzing about Madrid getting ready to make a huge offer of around €100 million for him. Supposedly, Vitinha has a private agreement that lets him leave PSG if someone puts that kind of money on the table.

But now, Sports Boom claims Madrid have set their sights on Neves, too. Apparently, the club sees him as the missing piece in their plan to rebuild the midfield. Scouts have already told the board that he’s a must-sign. Now, it’s up to Florentino Pérez to figure out if Madrid will go all-in.

It won’t be easy, though. PSG just won the league and the Champions League; they’re not looking to part ways with Neves. If Madrid wants him, they’ll need to cough up somewhere between €150 and €160 million. Neves only joined PSG from Benfica last summer, and he’s under contract until 2029.

He’s already made an impact: 13 goals and 12 assists in 83 games for PSG. This season alone, the 21-year-old has started 11 times in Ligue 1 and six times in the Champions League.

Switching gears, Real Madrid is also keeping an eye on Adam Wharton from Crystal Palace, according to Fraser Fletcher, their transfer correspondent. And Liverpool? They’re apparently preparing a massive bid for one of Madrid’s own rising stars, but there’s no word yet if Madrid will actually let him go.

And just when you thought things couldn’t get any wilder, a Spanish report claims Thibaut Courtois wants Madrid to move on from Trent Alexander-Arnold, who just arrived from Liverpool in 2025. The drama never really stops at the Bernabéu.

THE ARBELOA STANCE: WHY REAL MADRID’S COACH DEMANDS A HISTORIC PRECEDENT FOR VINICIUS JR

Action needed: Discover why Alvaro Arbeloa is challenging UEFA to punish Gianluca Prestianni and support Vinicius Jr. in Madrid.

top-news
Arbeloa challenges UEFA to move beyond slogans after Lisbon's racial incident

Real Madrid head coach Alvaro Arbeloa wants to see UEFA back up its anti-racism talk with real action after forward Vinicius Jr said he was racially abused during last week’s Champions League match in Lisbon.

The incident happened during the first leg of the knockout round against Benfica. Vinicius, who scored the game’s only goal, says Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni targeted him with racist abuse soon after he found the net.

Prestianni, a 20-year-old winger from Argentina, denies it. Still, UEFA hit him with a one-game provisional suspension, so he’ll miss the return leg in Madrid on Wednesday.

“This is a big chance to actually move the fight against racism forward,” Arbeloa told reporters on Tuesday. “UEFA’s always talked a good game about this issue, but now they can show they mean it. I hope they don’t just stick to slogans and banners this time.”

Vinicius, 25, picked up a yellow card for celebrating his goal in front of Benfica’s fans. Benfica manager Jose Mourinho later accused him of being disrespectful and stirring up the crowd.

But Real Madrid’s goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois pushed back. He said Vinicius’s celebration was nothing out of the ordinary and that it never justifies racist abuse.

“Mourinho’s going to defend his club and his player; that’s normal,” Courtois said. “What bothers me is blaming Vini’s celebration. He didn’t do anything wrong. Opponents celebrate in front of us all the time, especially when they score. It happens, and we move on. There’s no excuse for racism, period.”

Arbeloa called Vinicius a “fighter” and said he’s sure the Brazilian will prove himself on the pitch at the Bernabeu.

“Vini Junior has always had guts and personality,” Arbeloa said. “Honestly, I don’t know how anyone else would handle what he’s faced. He’s always stood tall, and that’s just how he is. He’ll show up tomorrow ready to fight, ready to show he’s one of the world’s best.”

The first match was stopped for ten minutes after Vinicius told the referee what happened, and Real Madrid’s players walked off the field for a bit. There were also reports of racist gestures from fans in the stands at Benfica’s stadium. UEFA says Prestianni could face more punishment once their ethics inspector finishes a full investigation.

On the Benfica side, club president Rui Costa stood by Prestianni and confirmed they’re appealing the suspension.

“I wasn’t on the pitch to hear what was said, but you can imagine how heated things get,” Costa told reporters at Lisbon airport. “We trust our player. He’s being labelled a racist, and I can promise you he’s nothing of the sort. That's why we have faith in him.”

Mourinho, who’s been criticised for his comments, won’t speak at the usual pre-match press conference.

Costa added, “We’ve appealed because nothing’s been proven, so there’s no real reason Prestianni should miss this game.”

Premier League Standings

WhatsApp Read More News