Jurgen Klopp to Real Madrid in jeopardy as Liverpool icon urged to make first move

Jurgen Klopp has been linked with the Real Madrid job following the Spanish club's decision to fire Xabi Alonso earlier this week, and there is an update on the situation

Jurgen Klopp has been linked with the Real Madrid job(Image: AFP or licensors)

Jurgen Klopp must be the one to make the first move if he wants to become Real Madrid's next manager.

Los Blancos could be in the market for a new boss at the end of the season after firing Xabi Alonso earlier this week, and Klopp has been mooted as a possible option to take over.

Alvaro Arbeloa was installed as Alonso's replacement, but there are no guarantees that he will be in situ at the start of next season, and the former Liverpool full-back's time in charge began in the worst possible fashion as Madrid lost 3-2 to second-tier side Albacete to exit the Copa del Rey on Wednesday.

Arbeloa fielded a slightly weakened side, but there was still plenty of quality in the Madrid team, with Vinicius Junior, Arda Guler and Federico Valverde all lining up at Estadio Carlos Belmonte.

Jude Bellingham, Kylian Mbappe, Rodrygo and Aurelien Tchouameni were all left out of the squad altogether.

“I was convinced the squad selection was the right one – and I still think so now," Arbeloa said after the defeat. "The team I fielded, along with the players on the bench, was a great team."

Klopp has not managed since leaving Liverpool in 2024(Image: Getty Images)

Despite Klopp recently saying that he had no desire to return to management following his Liverpool exit in 2024, it has been reported that he could make an exception for the Madrid job.

Tranfer guru Fabrizio Romano, though, claims that Madrid will only approach Klopp if the German makes it clear that he wants to occupy the Bernabeu hot seat.

“The answers I’m getting on this is that Jurgen Klopp has many fans at Real Madrid, he’s really appreciated internally by some people,” Romano revealed on his podcast.

“But the same people say this must come from Klopp. It’s not Real Madrid going to Klopp and saying, 'Would you like to return to coaching?' This is not Real Madrid’s style.

“They would only consider Jurgen Klopp in the summer if Arbeloa goes – and that’s not guaranteed because this will depend on results – but they would only consider him if he decides to return to coaching.

"This is something that must start from Jurgen Klopp, so let’s see what he decides to do.”

Klopp was appearing on a live TV broadcast when news of Alonso's exit emerged on Monday, and the former Liverpool boss suggested that the development didn't spark a desire inside him to return to management.

"This has absolutely nothing to do with me, and it didn’t trigger anything for me either," Klopp said. "I was surprised [by Madrid's decision], that’s true – genuinely surprised."