It is no longer news that Real Madrid parted ways with head coach Xabi Alonso on Monday, January 12, 2026, following the club’s dramatic 3–2 defeat to Barcelona in the Supercopa de España final played a day earlier.
While the loss to their fiercest rivals proved to be the final straw, Softfootball understands that deeper issues had been brewing behind the scenes, chief among them poor harmony within the squad.
Reports from inside the club suggest Alonso struggled to build strong relationships with key players, leading to growing tension in the dressing room. One incident that drew widespread attention occurred after the Supercopa final, when Alonso was reportedly in favor of giving Barcelona a guard of honour. Several senior players, including Kylian Mbappé, were said to have rejected the idea and instead headed straight to the dressing room.
The episode sparked heavy debate among fans and pundits, with many seeing it as a clear sign of disconnect between the manager and his squad.
In response to mounting speculation, Jude Bellingham later moved quickly to dismiss claims of any personal rift with Alonso, insisting that reports of internal divisions had been exaggerated. However, sources indicate that trust and unity within the group had already been damaged.
For a club like Real Madrid, where authority, harmony, and results go hand in hand, the breakdown in squad cohesion, combined with high-profile defeats, ultimately sealed Alonso’s fate.
