The premature end of Xabi Alonso's tenure as Real Madrid manager was reportedly predetermined by the club's failure to secure his primary transfer target, midfielder Martin Zubimendi, last summer.
The Missing Piece: Zubimendi's Move to Arsenal
Alonso, who left the Bernabéu by mutual consent on Monday just seven months into his role, had explicitly identified Zubimendi as the key signing to anchor his midfield. According to Spanish outlet AS, Madrid possessed the financial means to meet Real Sociedad's £60 million valuation but hesitated, allowing Arsenal to complete the deal.
The report claims Zubimendi even delayed his move to North London after hearing from Alonso, but Madrid's hierarchy continued to stall. The 26-year-old eventually joined Mikel Arteta's side two weeks later than initially planned and has since thrived.
A Tactical Void and Player Power Struggles
This failure left a critical gap in Alonso's plans. Madrid lacked a controller capable of orchestrating play and leading an aggressive press, a role Granit Xhaka fulfilled in Alonso's invincible Bayer Leverkusen side. Despite a star-studded midfield featuring Jude Bellingham, Aurélien Tchouameni, Eduardo Camavinga, and Federico Valverde, Alonso privately complained of a missing physical presence to anchor his system.
Compounding this was an apparent struggle to impose his collective ethos on the squad's biggest stars. Alonso faced challenges convincing the likes of Kylian Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior to fully buy into his methods, with reports of a rift growing. Vinícius Júnior is even said to have told president Florentino Perez he would not renew his contract while Alonso remained in charge.
The Guard of Honour that Summed it All Up
A defining moment of Alonso's diminished authority came immediately after the 3-2 Spanish Super Cup final defeat to Barcelona in Jeddah on Sunday. Following the trophy presentation, where Barcelona players formed a guard of honour for Madrid to collect their runners-up medals, Alonso urged his team to reciprocate.
In a viral social media clip, Alonso was seen instructing his players. However, Mbappé visibly protested, throwing his hands in the air before walking off. The manager ultimately backed down, and Madrid did not return the gesture. This incident was widely seen as emblematic of Alonso's struggle to command the dressing room.
Despite the tensions, Mbappé later shared a heartfelt message for the departed manager on social media, thanking him for his confidence and clear ideas.
The Aftermath and Immediate Future
Alonso's departure was confirmed fewer than 24 hours after the Super Cup final defeat. His record was not disastrous—Madrid remain in the La Liga title race and sit seventh in the Champions League league phase—but the pressure at the Santiago Bernabéu is unrelenting.
He has been replaced by club legend Álvaro Arbeloa, promoted from his role in charge of the Castilla (B) team. The swift change underscores the ruthless demand for immediate success and alignment at the highest level of the game, where a single failed transfer can seemingly set a manager on a path to failure.
