Xabi Alonso, the manager of Bayer Leverkusen, had originally advocated for Real Madrid to pursue his team’s central defender, Jonathan Tah. He was keen on seeing the experienced centre-back make a move to the Spanish giants. However, once Real Madrid became aware that Dean Huijsen, a promising young defender currently with Juventus, could be acquired, they decided to shift their attention and resources toward him instead. This decision effectively removed them from the competition for Tah, leaving the Leverkusen defender free to explore opportunities with other clubs.
According to Mundo Deportivo, Hansi Flick, who has recently taken over as head coach of Barcelona, remains interested in signing Jonathan Tah. The German defender, now 29 years old, is nearing the end of his contract with Bayer Leverkusen, which is set to expire this summer, making him a potentially valuable free transfer. Bayern Munich has also expressed interest in adding Tah to their squad.
Real Madrid, meanwhile, has withdrawn from any negotiations involving Tah. The club generally avoids getting into competitive bidding situations—especially when it comes to salary demands—and has made it clear that they are now more focused on acquiring younger players who can commit to long-term contracts. While Xabi Alonso would have still been open to Tah joining Madrid, recent developments indicate that a personal phone call from Hansi Flick may have played a pivotal role in influencing the player’s decision. As a result, it is now being reported that Tah is very close to officially joining Barcelona.
