A new study details how Real Madrid's own management ambitions could derail Manchester City's perfect Pep Guardiola succession plan.
Officials at the Etihad Stadium are still waiting for manager Pep Guardiola to make a final decision on his future at the club, despite the 53-year-old being in the final year of his Manchester City contract, which was last extended in November 2022.Manchester City have continuously stated that they will not put any pressure on Guardiola to make a decision any time soon, as a gesture of respect for his remarkable work in propelling the club to never-before-seen heights in the game.
However, as Pep Guardiola continues to consider what is best for himself and his family in his ninth season at the club, City are also assessing the managerial landscape throughout Europe for potential choices if the Catalan decides it is time to depart.
That evaluation has inevitably led them to Bayer Leverkusen's Xabi Alonso, who has wowed many Europeans with his remarkable performances in Germany, particularly in leading his side to the Bundesliga title last season.
However, according to Sky Germany's Florian Plettenberg, while Manchester City has expressed 'concrete interest' in Alonso as their future manager in the event of Pep Guardiola's departure next summer, Leverkusen have other views on their coach.
According to reports, the Bundesliga winners believe the Spaniard would instead join Real Madrid, who are presently the 'favourites' to replace Carlo Ancelotti.
Unsurprisingly, if Xabi Alonso moves to the Santiago Bernabeu, they will have a better chance of signing Bayer Leverkusen's Florian Wirtz, who is also wanted by Manchester City.
If that move occurs, and Manchester City loses out on a profile who appears to be their top choice to fill Guardiola's job in the future, the Premier League champions will have to look elsewhere.
Other names associated with the Etihad Stadium hot seat in recent weeks include Sporting's Ruben Amorim, who has since taken over as manager of Manchester United to follow Erik ten Hag.
However, sources close to the club have since revealed that the Etihad Stadium's interest in the 39-year-old was 'pure speculation', with fears that his system is not compatible with Manchester City's current style of play.
In fact, it has been stated that the preferred future Manchester City head coach would be aligned with Pep Guardiola and Txiki Begiristain's approach, despite Portugal's conviction that Ruben Amorim and Hugo Viana would reunite in England.
Hugo Viana will take over as Manchester City's Director of Football, succeeding Txiki Begiristain, who will leave the Etihad Stadium after 12 years due to his 60th birthday this summer.
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