Could Xabi Alonso be destined to take charge at Manchester United this summer?

In what was earth-shattering news on Monday evening, Real Madrid officially sacked Xabi Alonso after less than eight months in charge in the Spanish capital.

While Los Blancos appeared to have steadied the ship on either side of opening the New Year, Sunday’s 3-2 Super Cup defeat against arch-rivals Barcelona was the final nail in Alonso’s coffin at the Bernabeu.

Currently sat four points adrift of Barca and top spot in the La Liga table, Madrid also announced on Monday night that former his former Liverpool team-mate Alvaro Arbeloa will be taking over the reigns.

However, although the former Bayer Leverkusen boss might have drastically failed to live up to his billing after completing a blockbuster return to the Bernabeu, Alonso won’t be short of immediate options.

With Manchester United still looking for a permanent replacement following Ruben Amorim’s messy divorce from the Premier League strugglers last month, there is no doubt that the Old Trafford hierarchy would have been put on red alert after Alonso’s shock departure.

Alonso’s troubled return to Madrid comes to an end

Spending five years with Real Madrid as a player between 2009-2014 and tasting both La Liga and Champions League success, many around the Bernabeu were excited by Alonso’s return over the summer.

However, despite enjoying a bright start to life under the former Bayer Leverkusen manager, Los Blancos have shown some real inconstancies since returning from November’s international break and it had been heavily speculated that the 44-year-old had some serious pressure on his shoulders.

With the Spanish icons signing off the 2024/25 campaign without a single piece of silverware to show for their troubles, Alonso’s objectives were abundantly clear.

Failing to replicate the same formula that he embedded during his famous tenure with Leverkusen, Alonso only lasted eight months in the Spanish capital and it has been reported that the ex-Liverpool midfielder had some heavyweight public disputes behind the scenes.

While attacking superstar Kylian Mbappe might have praised Alonso in a social media post following Monday’s announcement, the BBC are suggesting that the duo had a heated argument prior to Sunday’s 3-2 Super Cup defeat against Barcelona.

Although it might be speculated that Alonso will not be immediately jumping into any role as he rightfully asses his options ahead of what should be another rollercoaster summer, United will be desperate to stake their claim early as they might feel that a golden opportunity has presented itself.

While the Red Devils will have to wait until the summer, they will certainly feel that Alonso is a perfect fit to mastermind United’s latest attempt at complete overhaul.

Xabi Alonso’s time in charge of Real Madrid is over.

The club has described the decision as a ‘mutual agreement’. pic.twitter.com/EpBTJflX2S

— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) January 12, 2026

Carrick set for a temporary return to Old Trafford

Watching Amorim complete his own respective blockbuster departure last week, Manchester United are dealing with yet another public drama behind the scenes.

Although Darren Fletcher might have briefly been in at the helm during United’s 2-1 FA Cup exit at home against Brighton over the weekend, it appears that another former Reds midfielder will be taking charge until the end of the season.

After more successful conversations over the weekend, it looks growingly more certain that Michael Carrick will be answering United’s SOS call.

While the news might have been eclipsed by Alonso’s public departure from the Bernabeu, it was reported on Monday that Carrick is close to agreeing on a deal until the end of the season.

Without a job since parting ways with Championship outfit Middlesbrough back in June, the 44-year-old previously had three matches in charge of the Reds as United’s temporary boss following Ole Gunnar Solskjaer‘s departure in 2021.

It is expected that Carrick will be in the dugout for the Manchester derby on Saturday lunchtime.

While many around Old Trafford are rightfully frustrated by another interim boss taking charge halfway through the season, they will accept a temporary stopgap if the United hierarchy are able to lure Alonso to Manchester ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.

🚨 Michael Carrick had positive contact with INEOS and Man United management, advancing to become the new interim manager.

Man Utd will announce new coach this week and Carrick is hopeful to get the job.

Solskjær, waiting for club’s decision.

🎥 https://t.co/db5zGPd80F pic.twitter.com/hZoDiqYZvO

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 12, 2026