Real Madrid dressing room 'in chaos' amid Alonso showdown

Robin Bairner

6 Oct 2025 03:59 CDT
3 min read

All is not well at Real Madrid under Xabi Alonso, according to a spectacular report that has lifted the lid on an uneasy start to life at the Bernabeu.

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Real Madrid may be top of La Liga after Barcelona were demolished 4-1 by Sevilla on Sunday, but head coach Alonso finds himself under internal pressure after just a matter of months in the job.

The Spaniard arrived at the club to replace Carlo Ancelotti at the beginning of June, and the transition period has not been easy – despite a comparatively strong on-field performance from Los Blancos.

Real Madrid’s dressing room has been described as “chaos” in a report from Sport.

It is claimed that Alonso’s desire to overhaul the squad has played havoc behind the scenes.

While Ancelotti’s strength was managing the egos of his players, despite sometimes compromising on the style of play, the new boss is not working along the same lines.

“He doesn’t look at the name of the player he’s going to pick but rather their current level. But in some of the battles he’s had with players, he’s had to give in,” Sport reports.

Alonso has a small group of core players, with only a few stars like Eder Militao, Aurelien Tchouameni and Kylian Mbappe apparently guaranteed starters.

© IMAGO - Real Madrid boss Xabi Alonso has a strained relationship with some players

Which Real Madrid players are unhappy?

One example cited is that of new signing Facundo Mastantuono. Having arrived on his 18th birthday, he has rapidly leapfrogged Rodrygo and Brahim Diaz in Alonso’s thinking, leaving the two more established stars fuming at their lack of game time.

Jude Bellingham is another looming problem. It’s unclear where the Englishman fits into Alonso’s system, and after a season of disappointing form, it’s also evident that he is no longer essential for Real Madrid.

“With Mastantuono and Arda Guler playing at such high levels, bringing on the Englishman would upset the balance the Tolosa native has managed to create,” Sport adds.

“Against Atletico Madrid, Alonso was hasty in giving him so many minutes and he paid dearly for it in a 5-2 defeat.”

Throw in the ongoing uncertainty over Vinicius Junior’s new contract and there is a lethal cocktail of discontent brewing at Real Madrid, which Alonso will have to use all his smarts to manage his way out of.

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