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Carlo Ancelotti may have to plan without Xabi Alonso and Philipp Lahm next season.
Alonso, 35, has told the Bayern Munich front office that he will retire at the end of the season, according to Sport Bild reporter Cristian Falk. He is out-of-contract at the end of the season after extending his deal one-year in December of 2015. Sport Bild have added that Bayern are holding the door open should he change his mind.
The Spanish midfielder has made 97 appearances for Bayern since joining from Real Madrid in August of 2014. He is in his 18th season as a professional footballer after making his debut in 1999 with Real Sociedad.
Sport Bild are also reporting that Lahm, 33, has said in discussions with the front office that he can imagine calling it quits as well to become Bayern’s next sporting director. Lahm’s contract runs until after the 2017-18 season, and he as dismissed such rumors in the past.
“Fact is that I have a contract until 2018 and it is tedious that it has to be address all the time,” Lahm has said. “If something should change I will let you all know.”
Bayern have yet to replace Matthias Sammer after he stepped down as sporting director after last season. Lahm has been one of the rumored candidates to replace Sammer, along with Borussia Mönchengladbach sporting director Max Eberl.