Behind the official announcement, polite and full of thanks, the break between Real Madrid and Xabi Alonso had actually been brewing for many months. The dismissal of the Spanish coach, after only 232 days on the bench, is not just a simple mishap: it is the culmination of a relationship that had gradually become impossible.
Arriving with a contract running until 2028, Xabi Alonso knew he was entering a club where the demands are constant. But very quickly, the first disagreements emerged. As early as the summer, the former Bayer Leverkusen coach had requested the signing of a true playmaker, with Martin Zubimendi’s profile in mind.
The management refused, preferring to invest in the young Franco Mastantuono. Another major point of tension was Alonso’s desire to extend Luka Modrić’s contract, who was ultimately allowed to leave by the club.
Internally, the Spanish coach quickly felt that he was not fully supported in his sporting choices. According to several sources, he was already aware of the extent of the structural problems within the squad and the lack of maneuverability granted to him. So much so that he had considered leaving the club right after the Club World Cup. If he stayed, it was mainly to avoid giving the impression of abandoning ship.
Xabi Alonso wanted to leave… last summer
The point of no return came when the management attempted to impose changes in his staff, particularly wanting to integrate fitness coach Pintus. Xabi Alonso flatly refused, considering his staff a “red line” and a non-negotiable element of his project. The club’s response was radical: the dismissal of the coach… and his entire team.
Even contractually, the break was anticipated. Although tied to Real until 2028, a clause stipulated that in the event of dismissal less than a year after his arrival, Xabi Alonso would only receive the last six months of salary for the current season. This is further proof that the club had planned for this scenario.
In the end, this divorce is the result of a series of sporting, human, and structural disagreements, far more than just a simple string of poor results. The Xabi Alonso project never really had a chance to express itself. And at Real Madrid, when trust disappears, the verdict always comes very quickly.
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