Xabi Alonso’s tenure at Real Madrid was never going to be easy, but recent reports suggest it spiraled faster than anyone expected.
Sources indicate that tensions in the locker room reached a boiling point early on, culminating in a dramatic training ground confrontation in November.
According to insiders, Alonso reportedly told his players they were acting like they were in a “nursery,” an outburst that many see as a turning point in his short-lived Real Madrid stint.
Early Cracks in the Relationship
Alonso had been at the club for just a few months when the issues surfaced, with relations between him and the squad reportedly “already at breaking point” two months before his eventual dismissal.
His frustration, it seems, was fueled by his inability to implement the aggressive pressing style he had mastered at Bayer Leverkusen.
Players, accustomed to their own rhythm, allegedly struggled to adapt, leaving Alonso increasingly exasperated.
Dressing Room Rumors and the Rise of Arbeloa
While Alonso wrestled with tactical challenges, Spanish media reports hint that whispers about Alvaro Arbeloa were already circulating in the dressing room.
Arbeloa, who managed Madrid’s B team, frequently joined senior training sessions and was seen as a potential future figure within the first-team setup.
Some believe this “buzz” subtly undermined Alonso’s authority long before his eventual exit.
Tactical Demands and Player Resistance
One of the main sources of friction was the intensity of Alonso’s tactical sessions.
Players reportedly found them “excessively demanding” and felt overwhelmed by constant input from multiple coaches.
This overload, combined with their reluctance to fully embrace Alonso’s collective ethos, especially from stars like Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior, created a growing sense of frustration on both sides.
The November outburst, described as “a cry of desperation, of weariness, and almost of boredom,” allegedly left a wound in the team that never fully healed.
Struggles on the Pitch
On the field, Real Madrid under Alonso lacked the midfield control that Toni Kroos and Luka Modric had previously provided.
Despite this, Alonso’s record wasn’t disastrous—Madrid remained in contention for the LaLiga title and still had a chance in the Champions League.
Yet, the 3-2 defeat to Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, proved to be the final straw, with Alonso sacked less than 24 hours later.
Power Struggles and Public Perception
Alonso’s challenges were not just tactical.
A symbolic moment after the Super Cup final highlighted his diminished influence: he requested his players form a guard of honor for Barcelona, but Mbappe refused, and Alonso ultimately backed down.
Despite this, Mbappe later described working with Alonso as “a pleasure.”
Jude Bellingham also defended the former coach, calling out false reports of a fallout in a blunt statement on his own platform.
He urged fans not to believe everything in the media, criticizing those spreading damaging misinformation for clicks.
Short but Stormy Tenure
Ultimately, Alonso’s seven-month spell at Real Madrid is remembered more for the internal turbulence than results.
With reports of rifts, tactical misalignment, and an inability to fully command the dressing room, his time at the club ended abruptly—but not without sparking heated debates about management, authority, and the fine line between leadership and discord in a star-studded squad.
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