Real Madrid defender Dani Carvajal said “only time will say” that Carlo Ancelotti’s possible successor, Xabi Alonso, could “recover that” after the team’s disappointing season.

Saturday's season finale against Real Sociedad will be Ancelotti's last game in charge of Madrid before he recaptured the Brazilian national team.

Madrid has not appointed Alonso's appointment official yet, but there is a widespread expectation for the Spanish coach to return to his former club after announcing his departure from Bayer Leverkusen.

"It looks like Xabi will be one of them if not formal, even if it is not formal."

"Only time can tell if Xabi is the right person to turn around this year, because we didn't win three major titles. But it's football. Ultimately, the results determine the future of the coach, the players."

Former Real Madrid midfielder Alonso will be responsible for the FIFA club World Cup next month. The 43-year-old has spent nearly three seasons in Leverkusen and coached the team on a historic unbeaten league campaign in 2023-24, part of the domestic doubles.

Carvajal added: “Xabi just had two fantastic seasons with Bayer Leverkusen and I think he would do a great job.

“He knows the club better than anyone, he is a player, he defends the badge for many years, he knows what it means to be a Madrid player, and I think that’s also an advantage for him as a coach.”

Madrid was eliminated by Arsenal in the Champions League quarter-finals and lost to Barcelona at Barcelona. Ancelotti Crasico May 11, will be behind their arches.

Ancelotti won 15 trophys in two spells from the Madrid manager, bringing them to the Champions League and Laliga Double last season.

“I’m in a different mood,” Kavajal said. "I was very sad about Carlo's departure. I was sad to see him go. I've been with him for many years and in his first spell, in the second spell, we won everything with him. He was like a football father, and for me, I said it sadly, but in the end I hope the coach next Saturday is the most successful coach in club history."

Alonso isn't the only addition Madrid received in June, with the club confirming the signing of Spanish defender Dean Huijsen.

"It's a great signing and he (Huijsen) is a great player," Kavajal said. "I'm sure he'll help us a lot."

Madrid is also expected to sign Liverpool right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold as a free agent, but Carvajal is not worried about having to compete with England International for a spot.

"Faced with the competition from Trent Alexander-Arnold? It's not official, but it seems to happen." "Fear? We don't talk about fear here, we will be teammates. Competition can improve our competition and achieve the best performance among each of us."

Carvajal, who suffered from the ACL rupture in October, provided the latest news on its potential return date.

"I'm going to the club World Cup," the 33-year-old said. "There is there, I'm going to start working with the team and assessing when I can compete."

Madrid is also considering strengthening its defender position, and Leverkusen's defender Alejandro Grimaldo is reportedly considering it.

Grimaldo's former youth product, 26, has just completed his second season under Alonso of Leverkusen and will follow his coach to the Bernabéu this summer.

When asked if his dream was to play in Real Madrid, Grimaldo told Cardina Cope: "I've always dreamed of playing for a big club, and that's always my goal. Real Madrid, Barcelona and Atlettoto are big clubs, there are a lot of big clubs in England, and I don't want to meet my goal in Leverkusen. My goal is to play in Spain again."

Grimaldo joined Leverkusen from Benfica in the summer of 2023 and he had only positive words to say to Alonso.

"I've always had a good relationship with him," he said. "He knew I went to Leverkusen because of him. I've been very grateful to him for taking care of me over the past two years."