Xabi Alonsos Six-Month Tenure Ends Abruptly at Real Madrid

Xabi Alonso’s Real Madrid stint ended mid-season despite the club calling it mutual. Reports suggest he was sacked. The team’s form collapsed after October, highlighted by a poor Clasico. Injuries to key defenders and finishing woes hurt his project, while board support dwindled and dressing room trust fractured. Madrid chose immediate results over patience, ending Alonso’s spell after just six months.

As the dust settles on Xabi Alonso’s abrupt exit from Real Madrid, more clarity has emerged about how and why things unraveled. Despite the club’s official statement describing the separation as “mutual,” multiple reliable sources indicate Alonso actually wanted to continue and was dismissed. His tenure, just six months long, began with optimism but quickly soured as performances dipped after October.

A humiliating showing at Anfield and a poor display in the recent El Clasico accelerated the board’s loss of patience. Alonso faced enormous challenges: injuries crippled the squad, wiping out his first-choice defense with Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dani Carvajal, Eder Militao and Dean Huijsen all sidelined.

Rotation players like Franco Mastantuono and Arda Güler also struggled with fitness or positional fit. Without Toni Kroos, Madrid lacked a true deep-lying playmaker, and the attack misfired, underperforming its expected goals by more than seven in league play. Aside from Kylian Mbappé, goals were scarce and Vinicius’s form fluctuated.