Why do Real Madrid stars dislike Xabi Alonso?

Xabi Alonso is caught between the power of the Real Madrid stars.

Complaints were rampant, the dressing room was in turmoil, and results declined. The strained relationship between Xabi Alonso and the Real Madrid superstars exposed a truth: the Bernabeu is not a place that easily accepts a young, meticulous coach who wants to rebuild everything from the ground up.

Xabi Alonso's problem

The turmoil surrounding the Real Madrid dressing room is becoming increasingly difficult to conceal. Late-night radio programs like Cadena SER and COPE constantly report on the tensions between Xabi Alonso and the club's most influential stars. This discontent is no longer just a rumor; it has become a central topic of discussion about Real Madrid, especially as the team struggles and faces pressure from its home crowd.

The 0-2 defeat against Celta Vigo at the Bernabeu last weekend was a shocking blow. Two senseless red cards, a goal conceded where Williot Swedberg practically walked into the net, and the boos from the stands created a chaotic scene for Real Madrid. In this context, accusations of "Alonso being too lenient with the players" emerged. But paradoxically, at the same time, a large number of players complained that he was… too strict.

The biggest sticking point lies with Vinicius Junior. The Brazilian forward is stuck in contract renewal negotiations and could leave the club as a free agent in 2027.

According to Spanish sources, Vini failed to find common ground with Alonso. The Spanish coach demanded greater adherence to rules during match preparation, tight control over tactical details, and a restriction on the "freedom of expression" that Vini enjoyed under Zinedine Zidane or Carlo Ancelotti.

Vini is reportedly unhappy with Xabi Alonso.

Not only Vini, but also members of his staff lost their familiar access to the team's inner workings. With a superstar operating like a "private company," it means their power is diminished. And this is the source of many rumors about the "difficulty of working with" when working alongside Alonso.

Kylian Mbappe, the team's most commercially valuable player, is also not entirely comfortable. Not because of public conflict, but because Real Madrid changed their travel procedures for away games. The team has to fly out the day before to accommodate NFL games at the Bernabeu. This makes an already packed schedule even more exhausting, and some players want to travel on game day instead of waiting for extended periods.

Real Madrid is not Leverkusen.

Another point of contention, seemingly minor but repeatedly brought up, is Alonso's demand to speak to the entire team every morning at the training center. Some players see this as an unnecessary burden. At Leverkusen, such meetings are generally well-received, as players consider Alonso an inspirational figure.

But Real Madrid is not Leverkusen. An environment where every superstar is a brand, and every small action is scrutinized, is always difficult ground for coaches who want to delve into the details.

In fact, Alonso arrived at Real Madrid with an almost perfect resume: over 700 top-level matches, one World Cup, two Champions League titles, and the historic shock of breaking Bayern Munich and Leverkusen's 11-year dominance. He was not only a model former star player but also a representative of the modern generation of coaches: scientific , structured, data-driven, and demanding absolute discipline.

It's not easy for Xabi Alonso to manage Real Madrid's star-studded dressing room.

But the environment at Real Madrid is the opposite of that model. Zidane and Ancelotti succeeded not because they built a strict system, but because they knew how to regulate the big egos in the dressing room. They let the players breathe, created a sense of freedom, and didn't demand rigid daily procedures. And they won six Champions Leagues in 13 years. When Real Madrid chose Alonso, they chose change. When the players reacted, they showed that they weren't sure they wanted it.

The comparison to his time at Leverkusen only added to Alonso's difficulties. In Germany, Florian Wirtz would deliberately stay after training to work privately with the coach. Grimaldo thrived in Alonso's system, and the players viewed him as an icon. But at Bernabeu, respect doesn't always translate into acceptance. Not because Alonso was wrong, but because the lines of authority were too complex.

Behind the scenes, there's Florentino Perez. The 78-year-old president is preoccupied with plans to partially transform Real Madrid into a PLC model, a risky undertaking requiring legislative intervention. For him, internal player conflicts may not be the top priority. But another defeat, especially against Man City, would be enough to change the atmosphere.

Real Madrid's superstars are accustomed to having the club shaped according to their vision. The periods of frequent managerial changes in the 2000s stemmed from this very pressure. And Real Madrid has yet to prove they can give absolute authority to a young coach, even if that coach is named Xabi Alonso.

The question is no longer "Is Alonso a good coach?" but rather: will the power structure at Real Madrid ever truly allow a young and meticulous coach like him to thrive and adhere to his philosophy?

Source: https://znews.vn/do-dau-cac-ngoi-sao-real-khong-thich-xabi-alonso-post1609781.html