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Analysis
- 1 hours ago
Fabrizio Romano Transfer News: Chelsea signing CONFIRMED, Alonso SACK decision, Salah LATEST
Cameron Smith
- 11 Dec 2025 12:34 GMT
- 7 min read
News
Football transfer news expert Fabrizio Romano has dropped a major update on several key stories ahead of the January window, including the latest on Chelsea, Xabi Alonso and Mohamed Salah.
Xabi Alonso sack verdict
Xabi Alonso has been heavily linked with the sack following Real Madrid’s defeat to Manchester City in the Champions League, but Romano insists that he will remain as the club’s head coach for the time being.
“I have to start with the Real Madrid situation because the crucial moment of Wednesday night was to see Man City beating Real Madrid at the Bernabeu,” Romano told his YouTube channel. “A huge moment for Pep Guardiola, a huge moment for Erling Haaland who keeps breaking records, a huge moment for City, but a poor moment and poor game for Real Madrid.
“Only two wins in the last eight games for Real Madrid, so not at their level at all. And many questions were sent to me about Xabi Alonso because the Spanish press was reporting that if Alonso lost the game against Man City, he would be out of the club.
“What I can tell you is that the indication after the game coming from Real Madrid is not about an imminent change of coach. So what I can tell you is that Real Madrid communications were not in terms of ‘Okay, we have decided to fire Alonso.’ So the story of Alonso being guaranteed to be fired if he lost the game with Man City was never confirmed, and Real Madrid confirmed that this was not the case.
“Now obviously results must change. There is an important game with Alaves and the feeling internally at Real Madrid is that they want to give Alonso one more chance to change the situation.”
Romano added: “The players’ reaction was also important right after the game. Okay, Real Madrid lost to Man City, but Real Madrid were fighting, and after the game Jude Bellingham, Rodrygo Goes, Thibaut Courtois, Brahim Diaz and all the players who spoke in public said: ‘We are with Alonso. We are behind the manager. We are backing the manager. We believe in his ideas. We are with Xabi until the end.’
“So they are all for Alonso in public and in private. This is the message coming from the players. Real Madrid are playing down reports of Alonso being fired because of the defeat.
“So let’s follow the situation, because for sure things must change and we have to follow it on a daily basis at Real Madrid. These results must change if Alonso wants to continue as Real Madrid manager, but at the same time, at the moment, from the club there is no direct indication of a change of coach.
“Is anything changing? Let’s see, guys. There will be internal discussions at the club about the Alonso situation, what is not working in the squad. So there will be internal talks involving all the people at the club, and we will follow the situation to understand what happens in the next few days.”
Current ETV
Rodrygo
F (R), M (RL)
Real Madrid
Rodrygo
F (R), M (RL)
Real Madrid
ETV Range
€67.7M - €82.8M
Rodrygo update
Meanwhile, Real Madrid star Rodrygo continues to be linked with an exit, although Man City aren’t in talks over a deal, despite Pep Guardiola’s admiration for the player.
Romano said: “After the game Alonso discussed this situation and he also received a beautiful hug from Rodrygo. But Pep Guardiola, after beating Real Madrid at the Bernabeu, said: ‘I went to Rodrygo, I told him he’s a fantastic, unbelievable player.’
“Pep Guardiola confirms once again his appreciation for Rodrygo. Pep wanted Rodrygo at Man City last summer. At the moment the situation is quiet again, but let’s see because Pep has always been a big fan of Rodrygo.
“Rodrygo has always delivered when he’s playing against Man City, and so we have to see what happens in the future. At the moment there are different targets, but never say never after last summer when it was not possible to make this deal happen.”
Mohamed Salah latest
Mohamed Salah was excluded from Liverpool’s squad for their 1-0 win over Inter Milan on Tuesday and Romano has confirmed that a move to the Saudi Pro League could be on the cards.
“I’ve been telling you in recent days, after the bomb exploded on Saturday night, that Saudi is one of the potential destinations in case Mo Salah leaves Liverpool in the January transfer window,” the transfer expert revealed.
“In the last 24 hours, the CEO of the Saudi Pro League, speaking in public, announced and confirmed that Mo Salah is clearly among the targets. So the official confirmation from the Saudi League: they want Salah. The Saudi deal-makers are still interested in Salah even after he extended his contract at Liverpool last summer.
“Now we have to see how this conversation will evolve - if it will evolve - because this depends on Salah. The story with Liverpool, the problems, are still fresh, and at the moment Salah or his agent have not started any negotiation with Saudi League clubs, but the interest is there. The interest remains from Saudi and so we have to follow that situation for sure.”
Aston Villa next signing confirmed
Aston Villa have been linked with a number of players ahead of January and Romano has confirmed their first signing of the winter transfer window.
“Alysson, a 19-year-old winger from Gremio, is going to join Aston Villa - here we go! €10 million plus €2m in add-ons,” he admitted.
“The player will be in England in the next few weeks for medical tests and contract signing. New addition for Aston Villa with Monchi who will have Alysson from Gremio as new winger. The Brazilian is coming very, very soon.”
Chelsea owners agree deal
Finally, Romano ended his video by confirming that Chelsea’s owners have agreed to sign Mohamed Zongo for Strasbourg, with a view to eventually moving to Stamford Bridge.
“The BlueCo Group have agreed a deal to sign Mohamed Zongo, a 16-year-old Burkina Faso midfielder. At the U17 World Cup, he was one of the best talents from all the nations and he is considered a huge, huge talent.
“Another top English club and a very important German club wanted to sign Zongo, but it was not possible because Chelsea won the race. They believe this is a special signing, a special talent.
“He will go to Strasbourg as the next step for his growth, and then future at Chelsea. This is the plan. This is the project. The player already said yes. My understanding is that the contract is already signed for Zongo to be announced as a new BlueCo player. So Strasbourg is the next step and then future at Chelsea.
“Another important move after the Deinner Ordonez one - Chelsea signed this boy for 2028, when he will turn 18 years old.
“Zongo and Deinner Ordonez are seen as super talents, not normal talents, not just profit players. They believe Zongo can be a Chelsea player absolutely in the future, similar to Deinner Ordonez as well, and so Chelsea are delighted with this addition. Sporting Cascades, his club, has agreed every single term of this deal. My understanding is that everything is signed and so Zongo to Chelsea is here we go.”
Football transfer news headlines today
TRANSFER RUMOURS: €200m offer rocks Liverpool as Chelsea hijack striker deal
Vinicius Junior saves Xabi Alonso from Real Madrid sack
Chelsea have a new priority target! €60m bid ready
Kobbie Mainoo ‘bothered’ by two Man Utd team-mates
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