The truth behind Xabi Alonso leaving Real Madrid!
It was a shocker when every football fan heard that Xabi Alonso had decided to leave Real Madrid mid-season. Something like this rarely happens at Real Madrid, and coming so soon after the board’s statements that they would back Xabi Alonso, it was a bombshell for everyone. As I briefed in my video, let’s start from why Carlo Ancelotti left Real Madrid?
It was because Ancelotti wasn’t able to unlock the full potential of the players, especially the front four—Vinícius, Rodrygo, Bellingham, and Mbappé. The club also wanted a manager who could continue the tradition of winning titles and matches, something Real Madrid have done year after year. Xabi Alonso was appointed for this very reason, and he began his tenure with the Club World Cup campaign.
During that campaign, several flaws and weaknesses emerged as the team tried to adapt to Xabi’s style of play. Some reports suggest that as early as the Club World Cup, players began questioning the new footballing ideas implemented by Xabi Alonso, as they felt the system could take a long time to be successfully executed. Some players also told the media about the same too.
However, after the Club World Cup, Real Madrid initially enjoyed a strong season, winning 10 of their first 11 matches. Then came the November–December period, when Xabi Alonso frequently altered his tactics in search of stability. Injuries also had a major impact on the team during this poor run of form.
Another significant reason behind Xabi Alonso’s sacking was his relationship with Vinícius Jr. We saw several visible outbursts from Vinícius towards Xabi when he was substituted, and he also put his contract extension on hold, which created serious tension within the board. Gradually, Xabi began to lose the dressing room, as his ideology and approach no longer aligned with the Real Madrid players.
In my opinion, the final act that made Xabi realize he had lost all control over the dressing room came when he asked the players to give a guard of honour to the Barcelona players after losing the Supercopa final. The players refused—especially Mbappé and Rodrygo, who called out their teammates and led the decision not to give Barcelona a guard of honour. This moment made Xabi realize that there was no point in staying, even if the board continued to back him.
As I said in my video, I am someone who believes in backing the manager more than most people do. We all know how big a club Real Madrid is and why they are always known for winning big games and titles.
The next Real Madrid manager is Álvaro Arbeloa. As a player, Arbeloa, now 42, won the Champions League twice with Real Madrid (in 2014 and 2016) and was also a World Cup winner with Spain in 2010. He began his coaching career at the Real Madrid Academy in 2020 and was promoted last summer to take charge of the club’s reserve team, Real Madrid Castilla, after moving on from the under-19s.
Do let me know what your thoughts are on Xabi Alonso leaving Real Madrid and how will the season go on for them from here!
Check out the YouTube video on the same:
