Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick has expressed confidence in Xabi Alonso’s future in football, despite the former Bayer Leverkusen boss being replaced as Real Madrid manager earlier this week.
Flick’s comments came days after Barcelona defeated Alonso’s Real Madrid side in the Spanish Super Cup final on Sunday. On Monday, Los Blancos confirmed Alonso’s departure and announced former defender Alvaro Arbeloa as his replacement.
Speaking at a news conference on Wednesday ahead of Barcelona’s Copa del Rey last-16 clash against Racing Santander, Flick described Alonso as a “fantastic coach” with a promising career ahead of him.
“We have to continue, we have to think about what we can do better, but he’s a fantastic coach and also has a great future,” Flick said.
Alonso, who guided Bayer Leverkusen to an unbeaten Bundesliga title in 2024, spent less than eight months in charge at the Santiago Bernabeu. However, Flick believes the former Liverpool and Bayern Munich midfielder will soon secure another major role.
“This is football and it’s not my business, but what I can say is that I have a very good relationship with Xabi,” Flick explained.
“I met him at Leverkusen when I was the national coach. I always stayed in contact with him. He’s a fantastic coach.
“This is football, we have to accept these things. I wish him all the best and I think he will get a new one, a big project for him and his team.”
Meanwhile, Flick confirmed that Barcelona’s new loan signing, Joao Cancelo, could feature in Thursday’s Copa del Rey encounter against second-division leaders Racing Santander.
The German coach said he intends to make the most of Cancelo’s attacking strengths for the remainder of the season.
“Joao is a fantastic football player, with a lot of quality in attack and this is what we need,” Flick added.
“When the opponent is deep in their own territory, we have to overcome them and we need quality, and he’s a good option for that.”
