Real Madrid learn Xabi Alonso's expected start date

Xabi Alonso will begin work with Real Madrid in time for this summer's Club World Cup, several reports have claimed.

A three-year contract is on the table for Alonso, who confirmed his imminent departure from Bayer Leverkusen last week after Madrid agreed a compensation fee of between €5m-€10m (£4.2m-£8.4m). He will replace Carlo Ancelotti, who is expected to take charge of the Brazil national team.

It was initially expected that Alonso would only join Madrid after this summer's Club World Cup, with former manager Santiago Solari lined up to return to the dugout for the tournament, but Cadena COPE were the first to reveal that Alonso's arrival has now been brought forwards.

Tax issues were believed to be behind his delayed appointment but Madrid have pushed to bring Alonso over to Spain as soon as possible, and the former midfielder has now agreed to the club's demands.

MARCA state that the Madrid board are giving real importance to his summer's Club World Cup. The prestige of being the first-ever winner, coupled with the €150m (£126.3m) prize pot, have left Madrid determined to do whatever they can to take home the trophy, and it is accepted that they will have a better chance of winning under Alonso than Solari.

Alonso, for his part, is said to have preferred to watch the Club World Cup from a distance, wary of beginning his Madrid tenure with disappointment given the limited turnaround between this season's bitterly underwhelming campaign and this summer's tournament. However, he has agreed to join earlier than desired.

There is an international window at the start of June, after which Alonso will arrive in Spain and immediately get to work preparing for the tournament.

The Club World Cup starts on June 14, just four days after the international window closes. Madrid's tournament is due to kick off on June 18 in a group-stage clash with Al Hilal.

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