Xabi Alonso was dismissed from Real Madrid on Monday, January 12. According to the Spanish press, the discomfort had been ongoing since July, just a few weeks after his arrival.
Xabi Alonso had been considering leaving Real Madrid as early as the summer, specifically after the defeat against PSG in the Club World Cup on July 9. A match that left its mark.
Despite having a contract until 2028, he quickly clashed with management on several key points: the recruitment of a true playmaker like Zubimendi, who was ultimately sidelined in favor of the young Mastantuono, and the desire to extend Luka Modrić’s contract, which the club allowed to expire. Internally, Alonso felt unsupported and lacked the freedom necessary to address the structural issues within the squad.
Convinced that his project could not succeed under these conditions, he seriously considered leaving at the end of the Club World Cup, but stayed on to avoid the appearance of abandoning the team. The situation further deteriorated when management attempted to impose changes to his staff, particularly the arrival of Pintus. Considering his technical team as non-negotiable, Alonso refused, which hastened his dismissal along with that of his entire staff.
His dismissal, facilitated by a contractual clause limiting his severance pay, is therefore not solely related to results, but to a buildup of sporting, human, and structural disagreements. In reality, the break had been in the making for months, and the defeat against PSG only confirmed to Xabi Alonso that his adventure at Real Madrid was already doomed.
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