New details
Those were apparently the reasons for Alonso’s departure
01/13/2026 – 11:43 amReading time: 2 minutes
Xabi Alonso’s time at Real Madrid is over. The background to his departure raises questions.
Almost six months after taking office at Real Madrid, Xabi Alonso has to vacate his post again. The Madrilenians announced their separation from the former master coach of Bayer Leverkusen one day after the Clásico defeat in the Supercup against FC Barcelona (2:3). He actually took up the job in the summer with high expectations. But things turned out differently. The Spanish newspaper “AS” now wrote of a “torturous time for almost everyone involved”.
According to a club statement on Monday evening, the farewell took place by “mutual agreement”. According to “Marca”, the club’s management suggested that a separation would be best. Alonso then understood the situation, it was said. “Mundo Deportivo”, however, reported that Real President Florentino Pérez is said to have decided on his own initiative to dismiss Alonso early.
“Marca” accused the 44-year-old of not keeping his “rock’n’roll” promise. And: “The team almost always lacked enthusiasm and energy.” The tenor of the international analyzes was that Alonso had not managed to implement in Madrid the style of play with which he had once led Bayer Leverkusen to the double, consisting of championship and cup victory. The allegedly tense relationship with parts of his team was also discussed.
Reports had been piling up for weeks: there was a “cold war” in the dressing room; it was said, for example, that superstars like Vinícius Júnior and Jude Bellingham were said to be very dissatisfied. Recently, however, there were small indications that the dressing room could be behind the 44-year-old again.
Striker Kylian Mbappé contacted his now ex-coach with a personal message. “It was a short time, but it was a pleasure playing for you and learning from you,” the French attacker wrote on Instagram, thanking the 44-year-old Spaniard “for trusting me from day one.”
According to “Marca”, the end came suddenly for Mbappé and the team. Nobody at the club saw this dramatic development coming, the paper reported. In addition, some professionals are said to have only found out about Alonso’s departure through the official club announcement.