Xabi Alonso Leaves Real Madrid Amid Internal Struggles

Reports indicate that Xabi Alonso's time at Real Madrid was marked by difficulties from the outset. He faced skepticism from club president Florentino Pérez regarding his appointment, despite backing from the executive board following his success at Bayer Leverkusen.

Alonso's departure came swiftly after the team's 3-2 defeat to FC Barcelona in the Supercopa de España final in Jeddah. Less than a day after the match, he was removed from his position, despite his efforts to downplay the significance of the tournament and encourage the team to "move forward."

While the club's statement cited a "mutual agreement," sources close to Alonso confirmed that it was, in fact, a dismissal.

From early on, Alonso struggled to gain full confidence within the club and did not achieve the same standing as previous coaches like Carlo Ancelotti or 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 publicly expressed frustration after being substituted during El Clásico.

Alonso's attempts to enforce strict discipline, including tighter schedules and limiting the presence of outsiders at training facilities, were met with resistance.

Disagreements also arose over transfer policies, as Alonso sought to acquire a midfielder like Martin Zubimendi, while management felt the current squad was sufficient.

The pressure intensified due to declining results and a rise in injuries, particularly after the dismissal of Antonio Pintus, the physical preparation coach under Zidane and Ancelotti, who was reinstated immediately after Alonso's exit, signaling a clear loss of confidence.

Although Alonso later tried to ease restrictions and grant players more freedom, it proved too late, and with ongoing poor performances, it became evident to management that the project was no longer viable.