\n<\/p>\n
“I don’t want to talk about speculation and rumours. [I understand] that this is happening, but what’s more important to me is what’s happening right now.”<\/p>\n
Leverkusen chief executive Fernando Carro said last week that Alonso was “comfortable” at the club and already planning for next season.<\/p>\n
Alonso was linked with Real, Liverpool and Bayern Munich last year, but told a news conference in March he wanted to stay at Leverkusen<\/a> following talks with the club’s hierarchy.<\/p>\n The former Liverpool and Spain midfielder won La Liga and the Champions League during a six-season spell as a Madrid player between 2009 and 2014.<\/p>\n Alonso retired as a player following a three-year spell at Bayern Munich in 2017.<\/p>\n He moved into coaching with Real Madrid’s Under-14 side the following year, before three years in charge of Real Sociedad’s B team.<\/p>\n In October 2022, Leverkusen gave him his first managerial role in first-team football and, having taken over with the club second from bottom in the Bundesliga, led them to a sixth-placed finish.<\/p>\n Last season he guided Leverkusen to their first Bundesliga title and the German Cup in impressive fashion. They also reached the Europa League final but lost 3-0 to Atalanta – their only defeat in 53 games in all competitions.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n