Chances Of Alonso Staying In Leverkusen 50-50, Says Ceo

Bayer Leverkusen CEO Fernando Carro said Monday the club had a 50-50 chance of holding onto manager Xabi Alonso amid rumoured links between the coach and Real Madrid.

Carro also revealed the club had a gentlemens agreement with Alonso, allowing him to leave to coach one of the clubs he played for as a player for a fee.

Alonso, who played for Real and last year took Leverkusen to an unbeaten league and cup double, has been linked with the top job at the Bernabeu, with current coach Carlo Ancelotti rumoured to be headed for the exit.

Speaking ahead of the Laureus Sports Awards, where the club is nominated for breakthrough of the year after their debut Bundesliga win last season, Carro told reporters that my gut feeling is that its 50-50 Alonso would stay.

Xabi has no exit clause, but we have a gentlemans agreement. If a team he has played for comes, we would sit down and discuss it and we wouldnt stand in his way, he said.