Former Real Madrid midfielder Xabi Alonso admits he'd like to coach Real Sociedad.

Xabi admits is ties with La Real remain rock solid.

“If one day I decide to become a coach, I'd like to return to Real Sociedad and do the best I can for the club as I did when I was a player. But I still haven't decided yet what path I will follow," he said.

On Inigo Martinez's decision to leave for Athletic Bilbao, Xabi added: “Look, I'll tell you what happened to me many years ago. When I was playing for Antiguoko, which was my team when I was a kid, and there was some debate about whether I'd move to the Athletic or La Real academy, because Antiguoko is a Gipuzkoan club.

"I could have chosen one or the other but there was never any doubt in my mind; I went to Real Sociedad and that was that. But footballers come and go and you have to respect their decisions and wish them luck and concentrate on the players that you've got. That's all there is to it."