Xabi Alonso leaves Real Madrid as player power at the Bernabeu prevails

Goal reported that Xabi Alonso has departed as Real Madrid manager after Sunday's Supercopa de Espana loss to Barcelona, a campaign-ending image in which Alonso gestured for a guard of honour but Kylian Mbappe insisted his team follow his lead instead.

Alonso arrived promising team-based, watchable football and has a strong managerial reputation after his success at Bayer Leverkusen, but the report says his positional play and high-pressing ideas clashed with a dressing room of powerful individuals. Tactical issues, the absence of a Modric/Kroos replacement, injuries and limited impact from new signing Trent Alexander-Arnold were cited, while squad dynamics — including a public clash with Vinicius after an El Clasico substitution and Mbappe’s 29 goals in 25 games — compounded problems.

The 3-2 Supercopa defeat to Barcelona crystallised those issues and left Madrid four points behind Barcelona at the halfway stage of La Liga, though the club remain in three competitions. The piece says Alonso’s reputation remains largely intact and that he will likely find a new job next summer, with clubs such as Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester City, Tottenham and PSG mentioned as potential suitors, while Alvaro Arbeloa is up next to manage Real Madrid’s turbulent dressing room.

Key Topics

Sports, Xabi Alonso, Real Madrid, Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Jr, Supercopa De Espana