Alonso's Real Madrid Makeover Sparks Locker Room Buzz

Alonso's Clean-Sweep Makeover at Real Madrid

Since Xabi Alonso took charge, Real Madrid's dressing room has split into factions, with players reacting to his new discipline. Despite positive results in La Liga and the Champions League, tensions simmer as the manager reshapes habits and routines.

According to The Athletic, recent weeks have seen rising friction between Alonso and some players who dislike the strict style and sweeping changes he imposed in the summer. Some feel disrespected and constrained in the locker room.

First spark: The dispute wasn't simply Vinícius Júnior's anger at being substituted in the Clasico; it ran deeper, tied to the changes Alonso began implementing after four years under Carlo Ancelotti.

When Alonso arrived in June, he told players that everyone must run harder when the opponent has the ball and that no one would be guaranteed a place without that commitment. The first real test came at the Club World Cup, where Madrid were eliminated with a 0-4 semifinal defeat to Paris Saint-Germain.

During August pre-season, the coach held a crucial meeting with the club's leaders to lay out a new set of rules governing daily life in the dressing room: punctuality, seriousness in training, and higher intensity across sessions.

According to a close associate: Alonso wants greater discipline in daily life, tighter schedules, more gym work, and more video sessions both group and individual.

But these changes were not welcomed by all; several veteran players felt they had lost some freedom on the pitch, perceiving Alonso's strict approach as a departure from Ancelotti's relaxed style.

A source said: This team won a lot without these rules, so when they were imposed they started to complain. It's natural, especially for stars who were protected during Ancelotti's tenure.

Another source noted that the team moved from a coach who rarely trained with them to a boss who lives it as if he were another player, while some players found Alonso guarded and hard to reach, unlike Ancelotti, who was closer to everyone.

A close associate of one of Real Madrid's senior stars said: He acts as if he were Pep Guardiola, but in the end he is still Xabi Alonso.

Radical changes included reducing the number of individuals allowed in training and match areas to create a more focused and private environment. They also restricted families and agents from certain training zones, something that was common under Ancelotti's era.

Alonso also demanded secrecy around lineups, especially before matches. He announced his first lineup for the Club World Cup only to have Gonzalo García's inclusion leaked, prompting a policy shift since then.

The coaching staff includes Sebastián Barría, fitness coach Ismael Caminforti, and analysts Alberto Encinas and Benat Labayen, all highly regarded within the club.

Caminforti's approach, drawn from a previous stint at Barcelona, surprised Madrid's older staff but forced everyone to adapt to newer, more modern and disciplined ideas.

A turning point, the staff says, is that they need time; the transformation requires patience, but Madrid's league leadership and steady Champions League progress provide support, especially after the 2-1 Clasico win over Barcelona.

The Clasico win eased the pressure Alonso faced after a heavy 2-5 defeat to Atlético Madrid last month and a 0-4 loss to PSG in the Club World Cup.

As results have improved, some players see the moment as an opportunity to grow; insiders praised Alonso's tactical flexibility and his use of rotating squads to keep everyone sharp, including young talents like Din Hoysin, Arda Güler, Álvaro Carreras, and Franco Mastantuono.

The club also lauds Mbappé's continued impact, with 18 goals in 13 games this season, following concerns about his first season at Madrid.

With positive results continuing, Alonso knows that some tensions are inevitable in a club of Real Madrid's size, but his ability to manage the dressing room will shape his long-term relationship with the team as the project at the Bernabéu continues.

And yes, if you wonder how this saga ends, stay tuned: the Real Madrid story is a marathon, not a sprint.