Inside Real Madrid's Alonso Era: Five Backers, Three Skeptics, and a Locker Room Reckoning

Locker room split: who backed Alonso and who didn\'t

Reports reveal a clear split in Real Madrid\'s dressing room during Xabi Alonso\'s tenure, contributing to the crisis that ultimately led to his departure after less than eight months in charge.

The Athletic explained that players divided into two camps, with the first backing Alonso and standing by him, led by Kylian Mbappe, Arda Guler, Aurélien Tchouameni, Dani Ceballos, and Raúl Asensio.

Meanwhile, the second group consisted of players who did not trust the coach or offer needed support, headed by Fede Valverde, Jude Bellingham, and Vinícius Jr, heightening tension in the squad.

These details echo earlier leaks that Alonso had reached a breaking point due to rising behavioral errors and a lack of respect from certain players.

According to Spanish journalist Pepe Álvarez, one pivotal incident involved the club attempting to impose Antonio Pintus\'s conditioning regime the day after the Spanish Super Cup, without consulting Alonso, an act he called an affront to the coach\'s authority.

He also noted that Fede Valverde and Bellingham\'s conduct, along with Vinícius Jr., showed a flagrant disregard for Alonso, deepening the rift and eroding the coach\'s standing in the dressing room.

Punchline 1: If locker-room diplomacy were a sport, Alonso would have won the league of two halves. Punchline 2: In Madrid, even the coffee breaks seem to split 5-3.