The two statements published on Real Madrid’s website caught everyone off guard. And when we say everyone, we mean everyone - except those who made the decision and a select few inside the club’s communications department.
That “everyone” very much includes the first‑team squad, who learned through the club’s official website that Xabi Alonso was no longer their coach and that, starting Tuesday, Arbeloa would be taking over.
Xabi’s dismissal hit the locker room like a bombshell; they neither knew nor expected anything of the sort.
The Castilla squad was also completely unaware of a decision that directly affects them, since Arbeloa will be leaving the reserve‑team bench to take over the first team. Who will inherit Castilla now is, for the moment, yet another mystery.
Xabi endures up-and-down rapport with Real Madrid stars
Alonso’s relationship with the locker room had been one of the hottest points throughout his spell in charge of Madrid. There were a few semi‑public frictions - such as Fede Valverde hinting he did not want to play at right back. But without question, the most explosive moment came with Vinícius Júnior, after the Brazilian publicly challenged him during the Clásico at the Bernabéu, shouting as he was substituted: “Always me! I’m leaving - if I have to put up with this, I’m leaving!”
The club decided not to open disciplinary proceedings against the player, and Xabi accepted supposed internal apologies that, notably, were nowhere to be found in the Brazilian’s public statement on social media. Vinícius was clearly Xabi’s biggest headache, though relations with the squad seemed to be improving after the recent victories that had calmed the waters.
“We’re with Xabi”
After the Champions League loss to Manchester City, when Xabi’s job appeared to be in real jeopardy, several players stepped up to defend him. “What I saw on the field is that we’re with Xabi. If we play like today and like we did against Athletic, we’ll win more games and things will be easier,” said goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois. “I wanted to show that we’re united and behind our coach. People say a lot of things, try to stir things up, but we’re together and we need that unity to keep moving forward and achieve our goals,” added Rodrygo Goes, who until then hadn’t had many minutes under the coach. Raúl Asencio summed it up: “The locker room understands the message Xabi Alonso is sending, and we’re behind him one hundred percent. Day‑to‑day life in Valdebebas is very good.”
There were more supportive messages in the matches that followed. But none of that was enough for Alonso to keep his job at Real Madrid. The 44-year-old’s time in charge is now history, and the question is how - and on what footing - Arbeloa will begin his relationship with the Madrid locker room.