Xabi Alonso has no doubt Real Madrid are now the "reference point" for football.
Real have won three out of the last four Champions Leagues and became the first club to defend the trophy last season.
Xabi said of his old club: "Of course, they are leading the way for the rest of the world. If we look at how they have played in the last four years and how the team looks, they are certainly the reference points in every way, both in Europe and throughout the world.
"You never know how far you can go but things appear to be very good. Zinedine Zidane has earned his place on great merit with how he has been able to manage everything. He won LaLiga which the club hadn't did recently and deserved to do it. Their trajectory is very good."
Source: tribalfootball.com