Former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has been identified as a potential successor to Carlo Ancelotti at Real Madrid, but an ex-Reds star is not convinced that he will make the move to Spain
Former Liverpool -defender Markus Babbel has claimed that Jurgen Klopp would reject the chance to coach Real Madrid if the Spanish giants ask him to replace Carlo Ancelotti this summer. Babbel, the former German international who helped the MerseSiders to win a historic FA Cup, League Cup and UEFA Cup Treble in 2001, thinks Klopp knows that he could not deal with the pressure that is accompanied by the chief of the Bernabeu.
Madrid will participate in Ancelotti after a second spell that has been in charge that two Champions League successes brought in three years after their elimination by Arsenal in the competition of this season.
But Babbel believes that Klopp will only give up his job as head of Global Soccer for Red Bull if he has the opportunity to coach the national team of Germany. Babbel said: “I'm not sure if Klopp will return to management again.
“I can't see him that he takes Real Madrid's job when Carlo Ancelotti goes this summer and she offered him the role. I can't see him return to Liverpool in the role of a director.
“He stopped managing because he no longer had energy and because the pressure is so high – and the pressure on Madrid is greater than in Liverpool.
“In Madrid, if you lose one or two games, you are so busy. You see Ancelotti now, he is under enormous pressure after leaving the Champions League.
“I'm not sure if Klopp would like that. He now has a perfect life, he enjoys it, he has a fascinating project at Red Bull, so why would he leave to take over Real Madrid?
“I think his position at Red Bull is the perfect position for him. You work a little, you are not every day in the training area and you can travel the world.
“This is what he wants – to be involved in a project, but not as the most important man. My feeling at the moment is that he enjoys life, he looks brilliant, he is lost kilos, he looks really smart.
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“The only way I can see him return to management is with a national team. Maybe with Germany, after Julian Nagelsmann decides to move to a new club.
“If the entire German football begs for Klopp, he will take the role of the German national team. But I don't see him returning to club management.”
Babbel told the Makthavare gambling website that he expects former header – midfielder Xabi Alonso to take over control in Madrid – but not until the summer of 2026. He still feels Alonso – who actually played – still unfinished things with Bundesliga champion Bayer Leverkusen.
Babbel said: “I can certainly see Xabi Alonso at Real Madrid when he continues from Bayer Leverkusen. Everyone can see him at Real Madrid because he has such a great potential as a manager.
“I love him because he is different. In his head he has a plan. He wants to learn in a club where he can build something, such as Leverkusen, and where the pressure is not that great because they are traditionally not such a big club. Everything is brilliant there for him.
“I don't think he will say at the end of the season that he wants to leave Leverkusen, he still thinks he wants to learn in the club. I think he will stay at Leverkusen for a season and then leave for Real Madrid in 2026.
“But if Carlo Ancelotti is struggling and is fired this summer, Alonso will make a decision to make. If you get a phone call from Real Madrid, you have to be strong to say no to the largest club in the world.”