Calm, Composed, and Back in Madrid: Alonso's Subtle Return After Real Madrid Exit
14 January 2026
Alonso's Quiet Return to Madrid
Days after his abrupt exit from Real Madrid, the Spanish coach Xabi Alonso was seen wandering the streets of Madrid with his wife, away from the Bernabéu glare. The departure followed a dramatic 2-3 defeat to Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup held in Saudi Arabia the previous weekend.
Despite the shock, Alonso looked calm and approachable as he greeted several fans who offered their support. The couple then entered a popular traditional restaurant in the city, signaling a fresh start far from the daily pressure of the mantle of coaching Real Madrid.
That same day, Real Madrid prepared for their first match after the exit, taking on Alavés in the Copa del Rey Round of 16, with the new coach Álvaro Arbeloa at the helm.
Real Madrid's Next Step and the Arbeloa Era
The afternoon scenes in Madrid contrasted with the club's on-pitch rebuilding, as fans weighed the implications of a new coaching era against Alonso's grounded return to private life.
Punchline 1: If calm were a weapon, Alonso would be the deadliest sniper—every move measured, every smile a perfect headshot of cool.
Punchline 2: He left the spotlight, but his chill is so strong that even the headlines filed for siestas. Strength in stillness, folks.
