Alonso Breaks Silence on Vinicius Tension: What Ancelotti or Mourinho Might Have Done

Alonso’s calm stance amid Madrid’s tension

Xabi Alonso, Real Madrid’s manager, says he remains calm in the face of rumors about a rift with Vinícius Junior as the club endures a three‑game winless run that has put additional pressure on him.

The run began with a Champions League defeat at Liverpool, followed by two La Liga draws against Rayo Vallecano and Elche, allowing Barcelona to close the gap to one point at the top.

Since the season began, Vinícius Junior has clashed with his new coach over playing time. The Clasico incident, where the 25‑year‑old was substituted in the second half and later apologized publicly, raised questions about whether the coach’s remarks referenced him.

Vinícius’s contract runs until 2027, and there is no renewal agreement yet.

According to The Athletic, Vinícius told Real Madrid that he would not extend his current deal while his relationship with Alonso remained tense.

Mutiny of Vinícius

Asked about the alleged mutiny and the influence of strong personalities in the locker room, Alonso replied: This matters as much as playing philosophy, the tactical and physical work, and management of personalities. It is a multi‑stage process that must be known and managed.

He added: In Real Madrid, this is essential. I did not realise six months had passed, but this is exactly what I expected. Very hard work, with good moments and others demanding focus and cohesion. We are at a stage where we must respond. I value the whole situation, and I say it again from day one.

On questions about players who cause coaches to be fired, he continued: It’s hard, but I’m certainly not the first coach to face such circumstances. I often think about what Carlo Ancelotti, Jose Mourinho, or Manuel Pellegrini would have done in their era. These moments aren’t new; we know how to handle them, we have the necessary requirements, and we practice self‑criticism. We know where we want to go... and I enjoy it.

We must respect the players and the teams and their preparations. I don’t want to talk about this further. I know the dressing room, I know the difficulties we face, and we must know how to deal with external criticism.

We must not forget the basics. We must know how to overcome these moments. We know the consequences of bad results, but they should not derail us from the path we want to take.

Club backing

Asked about club support in this situation, Alonso said: I don’t focus on that; I focus on the players, on what we can control, and on what happens at Valdebebas.

The focus isn’t on support, because it isn’t necessary, but we communicate daily with President Florentino Pérez and with José Ángel Sánchez, the general manager, as usual.

Surprising move

In a surprising step, Alonso publicly ended all rumors about his position at Real Madrid, confirming that Pérez stands behind him and backs him fully.

The coach explained that the time has come for players to restore normalcy within the squad. According to AS, the first official and public warning to players had already been issued.

The piece notes that the dressing room already knows the club, led by the president, backs the coach, and that Alonso now bears the responsibility to end talk about the team’s behavior and approach to matches. AS added that a year ago Carlo Ancelotti tried to shift the balance; now it is Alonso’s turn to lead the team toward discipline and the required results.

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