Former Liverpool defender, Alvaro Arbeloa, has emerged as a leading candidate to replace Xabi Alonso at Real Madrid.
Alonso’s position at the Bernabeu has come under intense scrutiny following a 2-0 defeat to Celta Vigo on Sunday night.
After Real Madrid defeated Barcelona in October, the club enjoyed a five-point lead over their rivals. That advantage has now slipped, leaving them four points behind in La Liga.
The Spaniard had only recently taken over as Carlo Ancelotti’s successor in May, after achieving notable success at Bayer Leverkusen.
The Athletic (via talkSPORT) reports that key figures at Real Madrid have already held internal discussions about Alonso’s future.
With a Champions League clash against Manchester City scheduled for Wednesday night, the outcome could determine whether he remains in charge.
The report also highlights that former Liverpool and Madrid defender Arbeloa, who currently manages the Castilla team, is considered a strong candidate to step in should Alonso be dismissed.
Another potential replacement being discussed is a return for Zinedine Zidane, who famously secured three consecutive Champions League titles during his first of two spells at the club.
Alonso had a promising start at Madrid, helping the team climb to the top of La Liga in October.
However, a highly publicized disagreement with Vinicius Jr has cast doubts over whether Alonso’s philosophy can truly work at the Bernabeu.
Vinicius Jr was reportedly furious at being substituted in the Clasico win against Barcelona, “which was seen to have undermined his authority at the club.”
