Real Madrid have dismissed manager Xabi Alonso less than 24 hours after a painful defeat to arch-rivals Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final. The club announced the departure, stating it was reached 'by mutual agreement'.
A Reign Cut Short After Super Cup Defeat
The decision to part ways with the 44-year-old Spanish legend came swiftly after Real Madrid's 3-2 loss to FC Barcelona in the Supercopa de España final, held in Saudi Arabia. Alonso, who joined the club just eight months ago, had been under increasing pressure in recent weeks. Rumours of dressing room discontent and inconsistent results had mounted, leaving Madrid four points behind Barcelona in La Liga.
Former Liverpool and Real Madrid teammate Álvaro Arbeloa, who was managing the club's reserve team, has been named as Alonso's immediate successor. The managerial change marks a dramatic and abrupt end to Alonso's short tenure at the Bernabéu.
Mbappé's Public Tribute Amidst Tension
Shortly after the news broke, star forward Kylian Mbappé broke his silence on social media. Posting a picture of himself embracing Alonso on Instagram, the French international wrote: 'It has been short, but it was a pleasure to play for you and learn from you. Thank you for giving me confidence from the first day.' He added, 'I will remember you as a coach who had clear ideas and knows a lot about football. Good luck in your next stage.'
Mbappé's praise is notable given his stellar form under Alonso, having scored 29 goals and provided five assists in just 25 games this season. However, the tribute followed a visible moment of discord after the Super Cup final. A viral social media video appeared to show Alonso urging his players, including Mbappé, to form a guard of honour for Barcelona. Mbappé was seen disagreeing, raising his hands and walking away, an act many saw as a public challenge to the manager's authority.
Dressing Room Divisions and a Rapid Downfall
Alonso's time at Madrid was reportedly marred by persistent challenges to his authority from key players. The most significant was believed to be Vinicius Jr, who allegedly told club president Florentino Pérez earlier this season that he would not renew his contract while Alonso remained in charge.
Reports from Spanish newspapers suggested up to five players were unhappy with his methods. Key figures like Thibaut Courtois and Jude Bellingham were said to have concerns over his tactical approach, particularly his insistence on playing out from the back. Vinicius publicly expressed frustration after being substituted in El Clásico in late October, later apologising to his 'teammates, the club and its president' but notably omitting Alonso's name.
Captain Fede Valverde also reportedly doubted Alonso's methods. After being deployed as a right-back in October, the Uruguayan defiantly stated, 'I was not born to play right-back'.
Alonso's arrival last summer followed a successful spell at Bayer Leverkusen, where he led the club to its first-ever Bundesliga title. He started strongly at Madrid, winning 13 of his first 14 domestic games. However, a Champions League defeat to Liverpool in early November proved a turning point. The team's form collapsed, managing just two wins in eight matches, which intensified the pressure. A brief festive revival of five consecutive wins proved insufficient to save his job.
With his exit confirmed, speculation is already mounting that Alonso could be in line for a return to the Premier League in the coming months.
