Mbapp, Bellingham Among Real Madrid Players Paying Tribute to Xabi Alonso

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Several Real Madrid star players have paid tribute to Xabi Alonso following the Spanish coach’s departure less than eight months into his tenure.

The club announced Alonso’s exit on Monday night, January 12, 2026, one day after Madrid suffered a 2–3 defeat to Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final in Saudi Arabia. Real Madrid has appointed Álvaro Arbeloa, head coach of the club’s reserve team, as his replacement.

Kylian Mbappé was among the most vocal players to express his appreciation. The French forward shared a photo with Alonso on Instagram, writing: “It's been short but it was a pleasure to play for you and learn from you. Thank you for giving me the confidence since Day 1.”

"I will remember you as a manager who had clear ideas and knows many things about football. Best of luck for your next chapter."

Jude Bellingham also shared a brief message on Instagram Stories. “Thank you, Mister. It was a pleasure, all the very best for the future,” wrote the English midfielder.

Similar tributes were shared by Rodrygo. The Brazilian forward also expressed his appreciation for Alonso, writing: “Coach, thank you for every day we’ve shared, for the trust, the learning, and the moments we’ve experienced. I wish you much success on your future path. May your career continue to grow! All the best always.”

Thibaut Courtois, Antonio Rüdiger, and Dani Carvajal were also among the Real Madrid players who thanked Alonso on social media. Vinícius Júnior, however, has yet to make any public comment on the coach’s departure.

Alonso’s relationship with Vinícius had reportedly deteriorated following an incident during El Clásico last October, when the Brazilian forward reacted angrily after being substituted.

Vinícius was subsequently left out of the starting lineup on several occasions, fueling speculation about tensions between the player and the coach.

Although Real Madrid stated that Alonso’s departure was by mutual agreement, a report by ESPN suggested that the decision amounted to a dismissal.

According to the report, the handling of Vinícius’ situation, concerns over player performances, and inconsistent results were among the key factors behind the decision. The loss in the Spanish Super Cup final accelerated the club’s move, despite Madrid having recorded five consecutive victories prior to the El Clásico defeat.

At present, Real Madrid sit four points behind Barcelona at the top of the LaLiga standings.

Amid growing speculation, Jude Bellingham strongly denied rumors suggesting he had a strained relationship with Alonso. “This is nonsense,” Bellingham said, as quoted by Antara.

He criticized individuals who spread inaccurate information for attention and urged the public not to believe unverified claims.

Pressure on Alonso had reportedly been mounting since November, with reports of dissatisfaction among several players regarding his coaching methods.

Bellingham was said to be unhappy with a change in his role compared to his position under former coach Carlo Ancelotti. However, the 21-year-old midfielder has repeatedly dismissed those claims.

Following Madrid’s loss to Manchester City in the Champions League in December, Bellingham reaffirmed that his relationship with Alonso remained positive and that internal issues had been exaggerated by outside observers.

Xabi Alonso joined Real Madrid as head coach in the summer of 2025, taking charge during a challenging transitional period. His tenure ended sooner than expected, but he was credited with bringing short-term stability before Madrid’s elimination in the Spanish Super Cup final.

Read:Real Madrid Sacks Xabi Alonso, Appoints Alvaro Arbeloa as New Coach

Click here to read article