Overview
- Xabi Alonso departed after 231 days with the club describing the separation as a mutual agreement.
- ESPN reporting cited by Sportbild says Alonso's exit gives Real Madrid an advantage in persuading Vinícius Junior to extend his deal before its 2027 expiry.
- Those reports describe prior friction between Alonso and Vinícius, including claims he viewed the coach as an obstacle to renewing.
- Interim coach Álvaro Arbeloa publicly backed Vinícius after a 2–0 league win over Levante, urging teammates to find him more often and vowing to draw out his best form.
- Zinedine Zidane highlighted the importance of involving captains and being available to players in a recent interview, underscoring a contrasting approach to squad management.