MADRID DENIES DRAMA: XABI ALONSO REFUTES JUDE BELLINGHAM 'CONFLICT' RUMORS
Real Madrid boss Xabi Alonso has dismissed reports of tension with Jude Bellingham, stating they have a strong relationship and talk "all the time" amid the team's search for form.
Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso says he gets along very well with midfielder Jude Bellingham, despite rumours of tension between them. Alonso insists he has no problems with Bellingham, who has played really well since coming back from a shoulder injury that bothered him during the 2025-26 season.
Bellingham has been scoring goals since his return.
A report says Bellingham isn't happy with Alonso.
Even though Bellingham has played well in his first few games under Alonso, a Spanish newspaper, Mundo Deportivo, reported earlier this week that there might be some conflict between them. The report also says that Federico Valverde, Rodrygo, and Endrick aren't happy with Alonso, who took over as coach from Carlo Ancelotti this summer.
Alonso says he talks to Bellingham a lot
Before Real's game against Girona on Sunday, Alonso dismissed the rumours about his relationship with Bellingham, saying that their private conversations are fine.
When asked if he had any issues with Bellingham, Alonso said, Not at all. I talk to Jude all the time, and we get along great. He's a world-class player who wants to get better, learn, and use his potential to become more useful.
I like players who want to know how to improve and ask questions. He fits in well because he's very versatile, and we need to pay attention to what's going on around him.
Alonso also defends his relationship with Vinicius.
This isn't the first time Alonso has had to explain his relationship with a player. He was also questioned about his choice to put Vinicius on the bench for Real's game against Elche.
Alonso said after the game that he and Vinicius had discussed the plan beforehand: We talked about it. We talk about it often. He gets it; he knew what role he could play. We've done it before, like in Getafe. We're not happy today, but everyone is eager to get back on track.
He insisted that he and the rest of the Real team are getting closer: We haven't fallen apart. We're still competing, and each game is different. The result is what matters, and we know that and are honest with ourselves. The mood is good; we have to respond to tough situations. This is Real Madrid. We deal with criticism and want to improve.
We're getting to know each other better and spending more time together. We're all in the same situation, and we celebrate wins. We suffer if we don't win. We need to turn things around, starting with the game against Olympiacos.
Real's next game: Alonso's team wants to take back the top spot against Girona.
Real wants to get back to the top of La Liga when they play Girona on Sunday. Alonso's team lost their place at the top after Barcelona beat Alaves 3-1 on Saturday, with Dani Olmo scoring twice.
Real is preparing for its game against Girona after winning 4-3 against Olympiacos in the Champions League this week. They want to find their form in La Liga after drawing their last two games against Rayo Vallecano and Elche.
Before the Girona game, Alonso said, "The plan has always been the same." We've had some problems, but we're going to fix them to get better. We want to keep being aggressive, proactive, and focused when we try to win the ball back. If the team isn't organised, things get harder. We need to be organised, focused, and confident in how to do things.
WHY DID REAL MADRID CHOOSE TO KEEP ENDRICK DESPITE MASSIVE PREMIER LEAGUE INTEREST?
After a stellar loan at Lyon, Endrick will return to Real Madrid this summer alongside Jacobo Ramón to form a new youth core.
Real Madrid has zero plans to let Endrick leave this summer. That’s what we’re hearing, even with Arsenal and Chelsea knocking on their door. We’ve also got some updates on Jacobo Ramon’s future.
Endrick is finishing his loan at Lyon on a high note. He’s put up seven goals and seven assists in just 18 games, and people are excited about what he could do long-term.
The 19-year-old forward from Brazil wanted more game time after struggling for chances with Xabi Alonso in charge at Madrid, so he pushed for a loan. Now, with Alonso gone, Endrick’s focused on forcing his way into Brazil’s World Cup squad, and honestly, the way he’s been playing lately, he’s making a strong argument.
Big clubs are paying attention. Arsenal and Chelsea have both checked in recently to see if Madrid would be open to a deal for him this summer.
But Madrid’s answer? No chance. They’ve told both clubs straight up: Endrick’s coming back to the Bernabéu, and he’s in their first-team plans for next season.
Endrick’s on board with that, too. He wants to stay and fight for a spot, a real chance to prove himself as a regular in Madrid’s lineup.
Florentino Perez backs him all the way; he still believes Endrick is the best young talent out there. The club isn’t about to change its mind.
Endrick’s not the only Madrid youth getting attention from the Premier League. Arsenal and Chelsea have also been checking in about Jacobo Ramon, the young centre-back playing for Como in Italy right now.
Ramon’s been playing alongside Nico Paz under Cesc Fabregas and has done well. Even though he moved from Madrid to Como last summer, Madrid made sure to keep buy-back and sell-on clauses, so it’s almost like he’s still a Madrid player on loan.
Now, the plan is for Ramon to return to Madrid this summer with Endrick and Paz. The club’s looking to keep its young core together and build the future around them.
Lots of clubs are watching Ramon; more than six want to sign him. But honestly, Madrid’s stance is pretty clear: just like with Endrick, they aren’t budging.
So for Arsenal, Chelsea, and anyone else hoping to swoop in, the message is simple. Madrid is keeping their best young talents. They’re not letting them go.
HOW HECTOR BELLERIN’S 94TH-MINUTE STUNNER PUSHED REAL MADRID TO THE TITLE BRINK
Real Madrid's title hopes faded after a 1-1 draw with Real Betis. Discover the impact of Bellerin’s goal and Mbappe’s injury.
Real Madrid’s La Liga dreams took a big hit Friday night when Héctor Bellerín scored a 94th-minute equaliser, earning Real Betis a 1-1 draw. With that late goal, Madrid now sit eight points behind Barcelona, and if Barça win their next match, they could pull even further away with just a handful of games left.
Madrid actually started strong in Seville. Vinícius Jr took advantage of a goalkeeping mistake and put them ahead early in the 17th minute. After that, Madrid had control for large stretches, but it just didn’t translate into goals. Kylian Mbappé had one ruled out for offside, and Jude Bellingham, along with the rest of Madrid’s attack, missed some big chances. It all came back to haunt them when, in the dying seconds, Bellerín capitalised on the chaos at the back and smashed in the equaliser.
People are talking about Madrid’s defence and not in a good way. They’ve failed to keep a clean sheet for ten straight league games. The last time the backline struggled this much in a single season was way back in 2003-04, when Carlos Queiroz was in charge. This run has cost Madrid dearly, with dropped points piling up right when the title race is heating up.
This result marks Madrid’s fifth league draw this season, another missed chance that opens the door for Hansi Flick’s relentless Barcelona to run away with the title. With their Champions League hopes already gone, Madrid are now staring at what could be just their fifth season without a trophy this century. About the only bright spot? Mbappé made his 100th appearance for the club, becoming just the tenth Frenchman to reach that milestone for Madrid. Still, even that was undercut; he limped off with a suspected hamstring injury about ten minutes from the end.
Honestly, the title now looks like a lost cause. If Barcelona beat Getafe, they will go 11 points clear. Madrid has two tough away fixtures next: Espanyol, then Barcelona in a do-or-die El Clásico that could finish off their title hopes for good. With their form stalling and Barça flying, Madrid now need a minor miracle and a huge Barcelona slip-up to avoid ending this season empty-handed.
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