"AN HONOR AND RESPONSIBILITY": XABI ALONSO BREAKS SILENCE AFTER LEAVING REAL MADRID TODAY
Xabi Alonso exits Real Madrid! Read his emotional farewell statement and discover why the club promoted Álvaro Arbeloa to manager.
Xabi Alonso stepped up to the mic for the first time since leaving Real Madrid and called managing the club “an honour and a responsibility.” You could tell he felt the weight of it. He walked out of the Bernabéu on Monday, and by then, Álvaro Arbeloa—his old teammate—had already taken over, moving up from his Castilla post.
The split was official: mutual consent, they said. But honestly, it was coming. After Real Madrid lost to Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final in Jeddah, everyone knew something had to give. Alonso looked worn down. Months of constant pressure and second-guessing had taken their toll.
The truth is, Real Madrid and Alonso never quite saw eye to eye. His tactics didn’t fit what the club wanted. He had a public falling out with Vinicius Junior, which apparently pushed Vini to refuse a contract extension. Then there was that awkward moment with Kylian Mbappé after the Super Cup—a small thing that fuelled bigger rumours about splits in the squad.
Mbappé was quick to thank Alonso on social media once the news broke. Others followed—Valverde, Rodrygo, and Arda Güler. Vinicius? He stayed silent.
Alonso kept his own response short. He waited till Tuesday, took a breath, and then posted a short message online. Just gratitude and respect, no drama.
“This professional stage is over, and it didn’t go as we would have liked. Coaching Real Madrid has been an honour and a responsibility,” he wrote on Instagram.
“I thank the club, the players and above all, the fans and Madrid fans for their trust and support. I leave with respect, gratitude, and pride that I did my best.”
Honestly, it’s wild how fast things changed for Alonso. Not that long ago, he was the hottest coach in Europe—he led Bayer Leverkusen to a perfect league season, delivered their first Bundesliga title, won the double, and nearly pulled off a historic treble. Real Madrid called him “one of the best coaches in the world” when he took over from Ancelotti last May. They gave him a three-year deal, but now, not even eight months later, he’s out of a job.
Still, this isn’t the end of his story. Real Madrid is famously impossible to please. One rough patch doesn’t erase everything he’s done.
Already, everyone’s wondering where he’ll land next. Manchester United needs a new manager this summer, and Alonso’s name is in the mix. There’s a twist, though—he’s got strong ties to Liverpool, and they might also need a new boss depending on how things go with Arne Slot. He turned Liverpool down once in 2024, which brought Slot in the first place. This time, who knows? Things might play out differently.
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.
Must Read
