Bayer Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso will leave his role at the end of the season, with the Spaniard saying on Friday the time was right after a fruitful three-year spell, as media reports link him to the Real Madrid job for next term.

Bayer Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso says he’s leaving the German club after this season, ahead of an expected move to Real Madrid

Pep Guardiola does not tend to give much away in his news conferences and it is often difficult to tease a decent top line out of him. However, shortly before he faced the media on Friday, breaking news flashed up on the television screens at Manchester City's training ground saying Xabi Alonso is set to leave Bayer Leverkusen.