Carlo Ancelotti Drops Bombshell Assessment of Xabi Alonso's Real Madrid Future

Carlo Ancelotti is confident that Xabi Alonso will "achieve success without any doubt" at Real Madrid, despite facing recent scrutiny directed at the Spanish manager.

Alonso assumed control of the world's most prestigious club this summer following Ancelotti's departure, with the Italian being the most successful coach in Real Madrid's history before leaving the Spanish capital at the conclusion of last season.

The former Bayer Leverkusen boss began 2025–26 with an almost flawless record, guiding Los Blancos to 13 victories in 14 fixtures across all tournaments. However, two consecutive setbacks before the November international window have placed Alonso under scrutiny, a situation Ancelotti understands intimately.

"[Real Madrid have] secured victory in nearly every game, but regrettably, in football, constant winning isn't possible. Sometimes draws are inevitable. One lesson I discovered at Real Madrid is that a tie here signals the beginning of turmoil," Ancelotti shared with AS.

"We understand that a manager's finest assessment comes through outcomes, and thus far, those outcomes have been remarkable. Leading La Liga and positioned among the Champions League's top eight. What else could we expect from Xabi?" the 66-year-old commented.

Real Madrid currently lead La Liga with 31 points from 12 fixtures, though a scoreless stalemate against Rayo Vallecano last weekend reduced their advantage over Barcelona to merely three points. In European competition, Alonso's squad occupies seventh position following a 1–0 defeat to Liverpool at Anfield.

Ancelotti: Alonso Will Be 'Successful' at Real Madrid

When questioned about his replacement's potential at Real Madrid, Ancelotti responded without hesitation: "Certainly, yes. I observe a strong squad, particularly defensively, and highly efficient in offense. Mbappé is performing excellently, and Bellingham has returned.

"I believe Xabi can achieve success without any difficulty."

Almost ten years prior, Ancelotti coached Alonso at Real Madrid and later at Bayern Munich, where he said he "definitely" recognized indicators that the midfielder would become a future manager.

"[Alonso was] a player who possessed exceptional game understanding. I was certain he could excel tremendously... and he is excelling tremendously," the Italian coach stated.

Despite receiving Ancelotti's endorsement, Alonso must continue demonstrating his capabilities from the sideline as Los Blancos seek to recover from a disappointing 2024–25 season that ended without securing any major silverware.