Carlo Ancelotti said Xabi Alonso left Bayer Leverkusen and praised him for replacing him with "excellent work" in Real Madrid, which was "excellent work" he did in the Bundesliga.

Alonso confirmed on Friday that he will leave Leverkusen at the end of the season after nearly three years in charge, a source told ESPN Spanish coach “closely” to become Ancelotti’s successor in Madrid.

Ancelotti is expected to leave after Madrid's final Laliga game of the season, and face Real Sociedad on weekend of May 25, although the team still has a chance to win the league into this Sunday Classic With Barcelona.

“I saw it (Alonso’s announcement),” Ancelotti said in a press conference on Saturday.

"I read that he was leaving Leverkusen, where he did a great job. All the doors were open to him because he was proven to be one of the best coaches in the world."

Former Madrid midfielder Alonso, 43, has long been Ancelotti's favorite, impressed at Leverkusen, turning the club from a relegation candidate to a Bundesliga title and winning an unbeaten domestic doubles in 2024.

Ancelotti won the most trophys of any Madrid coach, including three Champions League games, but has been criticized for the team's performance this season, which has increased after being eliminated in the Champions League quarterfinals.

"The honeymoon for this club is never ending," Ancelotti said. "The honeymoon will continue forever. Real Madrid is like (AC) Milan, with more teams in your heart than others.

"If you ask about honeymoon as a coach, I don't know, but the honeymoon will continue. Like any relationship, there are a lot of passion at first, and then there are a lot of other things, when the passion goes away, there are other things like feelings. I think my honeymoon with Real Madrid will last for a lifetime."

Sunday Classic In Montjuïc, the top leader in Barcelona is 4 points - the fourth meeting between the two clubs this season.

Barcelona won the first league meeting 4-0 at Bernabéu and won 5-2 in the Spanish Supercopa final, but last month's Copa del Rey final was closer, ending Barcelona 3-2 after overtime to finish 3-2.

“In these games, you have to do a good job,” Ancelotti said. “You have to defend well. They are a team that tends to push you back half of yours and when you have the ball, you have to make the most of their weaknesses because no team is perfect.”

Madrid's victory will lower the deficit to a little bit, with three games left per team.

"There are a lot of dangers," Ancelotti said. "If Barcelona win tomorrow, they will have more opportunities. If we win, the league will open and anything can happen."