Xabi Alonso Parts Ways with Real Madrid Following Tensions and Poor Results

Xabi Alonso's time at Real Madrid was fraught with difficulties from the outset, as he encountered skepticism from club president Florentino Pérez, who was not fully convinced by his hiring. Despite support from the executive management following his successful stint at Bayer Leverkusen, Alonso faced significant challenges.

His exit from the club came swiftly after a 3-2 defeat to Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final held in Jeddah. Just a day after the match, Alonso was reportedly removed from his position, despite his attempts to minimize the tournament's significance and encourage a focus on future matches.

While the club characterized the separation as a "mutual agreement," sources close to Alonso indicated that it was effectively a dismissal. From the beginning, Alonso struggled to gain the trust of the club, falling short of the status enjoyed by previous managers like Carlo Ancelotti and Zinedine Zidane.

This lack of support was evident in the locker room, where Alonso felt isolated, and some players believed his decisions lacked backing from management. Notably, Vinícius Júnior expressed discontent publicly after being substituted during a crucial match against Barcelona.

Alonso's attempts to instill strict discipline, including a focus on punctuality and limiting external presence during training, were met with resistance. Disagreements also arose regarding transfer strategies; Alonso sought to acquire midfielder Martin Zubimendi, while management felt the existing roster was adequate.

The team's declining performance and rising injury rates intensified pressure on Alonso, particularly after the dismissal of Antonio Pintus, the physical preparation coach who had previously worked under Zidane and Ancelotti. Pintus was reinstated shortly after Alonso's departure, signaling a loss of confidence in the coach's approach.

Despite Alonso's later efforts to relax restrictions and foster a more open environment, these changes came too late, and with ongoing poor results, management concluded that the project was no longer viable.