Real Madrid sack Xabi Alonso and promote Alvaro Arbeloa

Goal reports Xabi Alonso was sacked on Monday afternoon and Real Madrid have promoted academy manager Alvaro Arbeloa to take charge.

The article says Alonso arrived with a clear footballing vision but became the fall guy for a club described as subscribing to "Galacticismo," where players are often bigger than the institution. It adds Kylian Mbappé and Vinicius Jr are portrayed as difficult to fit into systems and that, in Tom Hindle's view, Madrid are four points back in La Liga while still very much in the picture in the Champions League.

The outlet's US writers disagreed over responsibility: Hindle argued the players contributed to Alonso's downfall and that he should have adapted his approach, while Ryan Tolmich said Alonso never commanded the respect of the top stars and suggested few coaches might control this locker room. They also debated whether Madrid should sell one of their high-value attackers, with differing opinions on whether Vinicius or Mbappé would be the smarter move.

Arbeloa's promotion is presented as a short-term solution: he knows the club but lacks experience and, as the piece puts it, "only time will tell." The writers also say Alonso is likely to have options for his next job, and opinions remain mixed on whether Mbappé's move to Madrid will ultimately be judged a mistake.

Key Topics

Sports, Real Madrid, Xabi Alonso, Alvaro Arbeloa, Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Jr