It is no longer news that Real Madrid parted ways with head coach Xabi Alonso on Monday, January 12, 2026, following the club's dramatic 3-2 defeat to Barcelona in the Supercopa de Espana final played a day earlier.
While the loss to their fiercest rivals proved to be the final straw, Softfootball understands that deeper issues had been brewing behind the scenes, chief among them poor harmony within the squad.
Reports from inside the club suggest Alonso struggled to build strong relationships with key players, leading to growing tension in the dressing room. One incident that drew widespread attention occurred after the Supercopa final, when Alonso was reportedly in favor of giving Barcelona a guard of honour. Several senior players, including Kylian Mbappe, were said to have rejected the idea and instead headed straight to the dressing room.
