Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has confessed a major blunder to confidants.

Mundo Deportivo says Perez has big regrets allowing Xabi Alonso to leave this summer. The former midfielder left his job as a junior coach at Valdebabes to take charge of Real Sociedad B.

With Zinedine Zidane under pressure, Perez has admitted to his advisers that Xabi could've been an ideal caretaker if the Frenchman departed.

The president allowed Xabi to leave after handing the Castilla job to Raul - though he doesn't believe the former Real captain is ready for the senior post.

For the moment, however, Perez is retaining confidence in Zidane.