Xabi Alonso's Sudden Real Madrid Break: When Legacy Meets a Digital Clean Slate
12 January 2026
Aftermath of Alonso's Departure
Xabi Alonso triggered a flurry of debate as Real Madrid formally confirmed the end of his spell with the club, noting the Spaniard had deleted every photo from his official accounts representing his time as coach. It was a clean break, and then some.
He left behind only a single pinned image with club president Florentino Pérez, a snapshot from the day he signed his contract with Real Madrid.
Madrid's Next Chapter
The announcement followed Madrid's statement that the decision had been reached by mutual accord, with the club praising Alonso's historic status and thanking him and his coaching staff for their service.
Behind the scenes, AS reported that Alonso himself had requested to depart on the night of the defeat, suggesting the Clasico had not been the sole catalyst and that deeper factors influenced the move.
Madrid quickly named Álvaro Arbeloa as the new first-team coach in an effort to restore stability and close the departure chapter, while the mystery about Alonso's last act continues to spark questions.
The clash against Barcelona in Saudi Arabia, decided 3-2, will be remembered as the moment that sealed the exit, even as the legend of Alonso remains tied to Madrid's legacy.
Punchline: If deleting photos was a trophy, Alonso would have filled a shelf bigger than the Bernabéu.
Punchline 2: Maybe he wanted a digital detox—turns out even legends can't outpace the internet.