Bayer Leverkusen's CEO, Fernando Carro, has hinted at a potential future role for Xabi Alonso at Real Madrid. That comes amid rumors linking the former Liverpool midfielder with a return to Anfield.

Alonso, who recently led Leverkusen to its first-ever Bundesliga title, ending Bayern Munich's monopoly along the way, was heavily tipped to take over from Jürgen Klopp at Liverpool. However, he confirmed last month that he would be staying put at Leverkusen beyond this season.

Despite this, Carro has suggested that Alonso could still end up managing another team in the future. Confirming the worst fears of many Liverpool fans, he specifically name-checked another of the Spaniard's former clubs, Real Madrid.

Speaking to Spanish news outlet AS, he said: "It is possible that at some point in his career as a coach, he [Alonso] ends up managing Real Madrid, yes."

However, Carro also acknowledged that several clubs were "interested" in appointing Alonso as manager before he committed to Bayer Leverkusen. And he didn't rule out the possibility of him taking charge at any one of his former teams, which include Liverpool and Bayern Munich as well as Real Madrid.

"There are many interested clubs, it is true, which does not mean that in the future he [Alonso] cannot coach some of those that have been named, especially his former teams as a player," said Carro. "But he feels at ease here; if not, he wouldn't continue.

"We will maintain our ambition next year and play in the Champions League. Obviously, we are very happy with it. It's a good situation for all parties and I think we both win.

"This is a project that we started with him and it is very important that it continues. But Xabi also knows what he has at Leverkusen as a club, not only do we know what we have with him as a coach. It is good for both of us to continue working together."

Liverpool.com says: There is a reasonable school of thought that it doesn't get any better than this at Bayer Leverkusen for Alonso, and that he would have been wise to jump ship while his stock is at its highest. But it sounds as though he has an excellent structure around him, and he has certainly earned the right to back himself to still be well in demand for future vacancies.

The fear from a Liverpool perspective is that the Anfield job could have been now or never. It does not tend to come up often, certainly not in comparison to Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, and once Alonso is settled at one of those, it could be hard to get him out again.

Even this summer, before his Bayer Leverkusen decision, there was a slight fear that Real Madrid could come calling despite Carlo Ancelotti's contract extension. Liverpool has been burned by Los Blancos many times before, not least when selling Alonso, and the CEO of his current club has in that sense confirmed the worst fears.

That said, Alonso is right near the start of what promises to be a long coaching career, and Carro did appear to imply that Alonso has an interest in one day returning to multiple of his former clubs. It may require patience, but he could well one day find himself in the Liverpool dugout.

* An AI tool was used to add an extra layer to the editing process for this story. You can read the original story in the Liverpool ECHO by clicking here.