Former Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso has reportedly admitted that taking the head coach role at the Santiago Bernabéu last May was a “huge mistake.” According to the Spanish radio program “El Larguero,” Alonso expressed relief at his early departure, citing the toxic atmosphere that continues to plague the club.
A Dream Turn Into a Nightmare
Alonso arrived in Madrid with high expectations after a historic treble-winning season with Bayer Leverkusen. However, his tenure was marred by:
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Dressing Room Discord: Frequent clashes with stars like Vinícius Júnior and Jude Bellingham.
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Poor Results: His stint ended abruptly in January after a heavy defeat to Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final held in Saudi Arabia.
Relief Over Recent Scandals
In private circles, the Basque tactician noted his relief at not having to manage the recent “bizarre” crises at the club, specifically the violent altercation between Aurelien Tchouameni and Fede Valverde that left the latter hospitalized. Alonso reportedly felt that the current generation lacked true leadership, making his mission for discipline impossible.
Mourinho: The Next “Savior”?
With Alvaro Arbeloa set to leave at the end of the season, Real Madrid is reportedly looking toward Jose Mourinho to restore order. The “Special One” is expected to be granted unprecedented powers to overhaul the squad’s discipline—authority that was reportedly denied to Alonso during his short reign.
