Xabi Alonso is still chatting with a Real Madrid player who he hopes to sign for Chelsea one day.
Xabi Alonso is staying in touch with one of his former Real Madrid players as he gets ready to sign his first players for Chelsea. After lots of talk about him possibly taking over as Liverpool manager, it was confirmed that Alonso will become Chelsea’s boss starting July 1.
The Spanish coach has signed a four-year deal at Stamford Bridge and is expected to be much more hands-on and involved than previous managers. Fans are excited to see which players he’ll bring in first, especially since he was recently managing Real Madrid.
Many Chelsea supporters hope Alonso can persuade some of Real’s top stars to join the club in London. One player he seems keen on is the talented midfielder Arda Guler. It’s been confirmed that Alonso still regularly messages Guler, showing a strong connection between them.
Before Alonso arrived at Real Madrid, Guler wasn’t getting much playing time. But under Alonso, the Turkish international became a key player, starting 25 league games this season alone despite missing some time with injury. Overall, Guler played 2,090 minutes in 34 games, scoring four goals and assisting 10.
This trust helped build a close bond between them. Guler recently wished Alonso well at Chelsea and said they keep in regular contact. “We had a brilliant relationship. I felt like he gave me the keys,” he told TRT Spor. “Now he’s at Chelsea, and I hope everything goes great for him. Of course, we’re still messaging each other.”
Guler is valued at about €90 million right now, but with his contract running until 2029, Real Madrid would likely ask for over €115 million (£100 million) to sell him.
When Alonso starts at Chelsea, he’s expected to make some big changes to help the club get back into the Champions League by the 2027/28 season. Talking about playing under Alonso, Guler said it didn’t take long for him to trust the coach’s style.
After a Champions League match against Bayern Munich, Alonso told him he was proud, which meant a lot to Guler. “I hope everything goes well for him. I think he’s a great manager,” the young player said.
About Alonso’s coaching, Guler added, “When he explains tactics in his office, it’s easy to believe in him. He knows exactly what you can do and how to help you improve. Before a match, he told me, ‘I want you to touch the ball more than everyone on your right.’ It didn’t take much to be convinced.”