Xabi Alonso to Real Madrid is on claims La Liga expert as Kylian Mbappe 'clicking' concerns revealed

Xabi Alonso's return to Real Madrid as manager has been given its biggest assessment yet after Los Blancos fell to a 2-1 defeat to Athletic Club.

Alex Berengeur gave the Basque side the lead before Kylian Mbappe saw his penalty saved by Julen Agirrezabala. Jude Bellingham equalised to silence the San Mames before Gorka Guruzeta grabbed the winner. The result piles further pressure on Carlo Ancelotti after recent Champions League defeats to AC Milan and Liverpool. Top Spanish football journalist Guillem Balague has revealed a lack of trust from the Real Madrid hierarchy is "starting to be felt" by Ancelotti, with rumours of Xabi Alonso replacing him continuing to swirl.

He revealed: "Of course the names of, especially, Xabi Alonso has been heard in the media in Madrid as a replacement for Ancelotti. Xabi Alonso has got possibly this year to go at Bayer Leverkusen, then after that if Real Madrid come it may be a really good possibility of him becoming the manager. Ancelotti is going through what he went through in his last year in his previous time at Real Madrid. But that is Real Madrid - they want to be at the top constantly and right now he does not seem to have enough collective answers."

As well as against Bilbao, Mbappe also missed a penalty at Anfield and Jude Bellingham stepped in to take a spot kick against Getafe in another La Liga match. Balague thinks a sharp drop in confidence is one issue for the 25-year-old France star, but he had his say on his relationship with his teammates.

He added: "Kylian Mbappe is part of the present and future of Real Madrid. And he will become, and you have seen already how good he is. He will become THAT player. It doesn't feel like he is impressing because he is not impressing.