Tag: Xabi Alonso

Real Madrid might be pivoting to a Xabi Alonso favorite on the market
19Jun By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Transfers

Real Madrid might be pivoting to a Xabi Alonso favorite on the market

Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso has three new signings to work with already in defenders Dean Huijsen and Trent Alexander-Arnold, as well as Argentinian phenom Franco Mastantuono in the playmaker role. These are three potentially world-class signings, but they still don't solve all the problems Real Madrid have after a poor summer 2024 transfer window in which Florentino Perez rested on his laurels with only Kylian Mbappe as an addition - and in the one area that wasn't remotely a weakness. Real Madrid still need midfield controllers and a No. 9 who can play a more traditional striker role to bring extra goals, but their biggest remaining weakness is easily at the left back position. Ferland Mendy's injury woes have caused a precipitous decline, while Fran Garcia has shown that he...
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Xabi Alonso, Real Madrid fundamentally disagree on a key signing
19Jun By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Transfers

Xabi Alonso, Real Madrid fundamentally disagree on a key signing

The Xabi Alonso era at Real Madrid got off to a predictably rough start on Wednesday afternoon in the United States, as the Merengues could only muster a 1-1 draw against Simone Inzaghi's Saudi Pro League giants, Al-Hilal. Real Madrid were outplayed for vast stretches of the game, and a familiar issue cropped up for the team in this Club World Cup opener; Real Madrid failed to have any real control over the game. It will take some time for the Royal Whites to adapt to Alonso's coaching style and shake off the bad habits of the last season under Carlo Ancelotti, but it will also take a few more key signings in order for Real Madrid to have the right squad for its new coach after going trophyless in the 2024/25 season. Real Madrid have already added a new right back in Trent Alexand...
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Xabi Alonso proves he understands Kylian Mbappe better than Carlo Ancelotti
18Jun By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Real Madrid News

Xabi Alonso proves he understands Kylian Mbappe better than Carlo Ancelotti

Real Madrid superstar forward Kylian Mbappe faced an awful lot of criticism in his first season with the Royal Whites, especially in the first few months, which, upon reflection, is no real surprise given his own stature and the normally high expectations placed around the club. The fact that Real's attack was outshone by Barcelona as they floundered in all competitions in a trophyless season, losing to their rivals four out of four times, certainly didn't help the perception around Mbappe. But any reasonable person will say that Mbappe had a great first season at the Santiago Bernabeu in spite of the poor performances of his teammates, as Mbappe led LaLiga and all of European football with 31 goals. Remarkably enough, it was the first time in his career that Mbappe won the European ...
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Xabi Alonso turned Real Madrid’s biggest crisis into a potential strength
17Jun By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Real Madrid News

Xabi Alonso turned Real Madrid’s biggest crisis into a potential strength

Ever since his announcement as the next Real Madrid manager, there has been an immense amount of optimism from the fanbase towards the new Xabi Alonso era at the club. Although Alonso is taking over for a manager who brought three Champions League titles to Real Madrid, including the historic Decima and the club's first title win after losing Cristiano Ronaldo to Juventus, there's a pervasive sense that the Spanish international is an upgrade over Don Carlo. Alonso brought Bayer Leverkusen to the pinnacle of German football, posting an undefeated 2023/24 season while coaching some of the biggest breakouts in European football, such as left back Alex Grimaldo and midfielder Exequiel Palacios. And now, even before coaching a single game for Real Madrid, there's a strong belief among...
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Xabi Alonso is already making the most important changes for Real Madrid
17Jun By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Real Madrid News

Xabi Alonso is already making the most important changes for Real Madrid

Real Madrid won two Champions League titles in Carlo Ancelotti's second stint as manager, but despite cries from outside Spain that Madridistas are too harsh towards the legendary manager, there were very few regrets or disagreements among the fanbase at the club's decision to part ways with Don Carlo. The reality is that the squad became far too undisciplined, reliant on a few individual superstars, and increasingly fractured. Even those moments of individual brilliance from player like Vinicius Junior became fewer and further between, and nobody could bail Real out of four Clasico losses and a trophyless season. Entering the picture is a former Real Madrid star in Xabi Alonso, who was a crucial anchor for the first Ancelotti-led side that brought the Champions League back to the Sp...
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Xabi Alonso is already snubbing Rodrygo Goes
16Jun By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Real Madrid News

Xabi Alonso is already snubbing Rodrygo Goes

No star player on Real Madrid has been mired in more transfer rumor and innuendo than star forward Rodrygo Goes, who, quite frankly, is no longer at star status at Real Madrid. With the arrival of Kylian Mbappe, there was a narrative at the beginning of the season that left Rodrygo out of the spotlight, and teammates like Jude Bellingham were quick to point out to the media that the two-time Champions League winner was very much a vital part of the team. But Rodrygo ended up being the odd one out with Mbappe starring, as the Brazilian international slumped to a flat-out unacceptable six goals and five assists in 22 starts and 30 total appearances as a Real Madrid starter. Immediately before the season ended, there were already transfer rumors about Rodrygo, and there were even rep...
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