Softfootball understands that Kylian Mbappé has come out strongly in defence of Xabi Alonso following the Spaniard’s sudden exit as Real Madrid head coach, pushing back against claims that the former midfielder failed at the club or lost the dressing room.
Speaking today in a recent interview as reported by Fabrizio Romano via his official X account, just days after Alonso’s departure, Mbappé insisted that the narrative around his tenure has been unfairly framed.
He said:
Kylian Mbappé: We didn’t have any problem with Xabi Alonso. To say that Xabi wasn’t successful isn’t true. He left before the titles were won. We only lost the Supercopa with him. Xabi, in my opinion, will be a FANTASTIC coach. I had a great relationship with him.
Mbappé lauded Alonso’s footballing intelligence and leadership, insisting the Spaniard departed before he had the chance to lift any trophies with the club.
Despite Real Madrid’s official statement describing Alonso’s exit as a mutual agreement, reports in Spain suggested otherwise. Jude Bellingham, Vinícius Júnior, and Fede Valverde were reportedly unconvinced by Alonso’s methods. Mbappé distanced himself from those claims, however, arguing that much of what is reported is exaggerated.
One key moment that fuelled speculation was a viral clip from the 3-2 defeat in the Spanish Super Cup final to Barcelona, where Alonso attempted to organise a guard of honour for Barcelona.
Mbappé appeared to object and led teammates toward the tunnel, a scene that raised eyebrows across Spanish media.
Mbappé’s comments offer a strong counter to the criticism surrounding Xabi Alonso’s short spell at Real Madrid, painting a picture of mutual respect rather than internal conflict. By stressing that Alonso departed before trophies could be secured, the French forward underlined how fine the margins were during his tenure.
With Mbappé publicly backing his former coach and praising their working relationship, the narrative shifts away from failure and toward unfinished business. As Real Madrid move on under new leadership, Alonso’s reputation remains intact, and, if Mbappé’s words are any indication, his future in management still looks very bright.
