Mbappé but not Bellingham bids Alonso adiós

Kylian Mbappé Bids Farewell to Xabi Alonso, But Vinícius Júnior and Jude Bellingham Stay Silent

Xabi Alonso's tenure as Real Madrid manager ended abruptly after less than eight months, with the club announcing his departure by mutual consent on Monday, shortly after a 3-2 defeat to Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final in Saudi Arabia. Despite initial patience from officials, poor results, inconsistent play, and internal tensions led to the decision, sources told ESPN[3]. Álvaro Arbeloa, coach of Madrid's reserves, was named as his replacement.

Kylian Mbappé was the first high-profile player to publicly react, posting a heartfelt tribute on Instagram alongside a photo of the pair. "It's been short but it was a pleasure to play for you and learn from you. Thank you for giving me the confidence since Day 1. I will remember you as a manager who had clear ideas and knows many things about football. Best of luck for your next chapter," the Frenchman wrote[1][2][3]. Under Alonso, Mbappé excelled with 29 goals and five assists in 25 matches, though reports noted tactical clashes, including a post-Super Cup incident where Mbappé waved off teammates during a guard of honor[2].

Other squad members quickly followed with farewells: Tchouaméni thanked him for the learning opportunity; Rodrygo praised the trust and shared moments; Rüdiger, Huijsen, Carvajal, Alaba, and Álvaro Carreras expressed gratitude and best wishes[1]. Notably, Vinícius Júnior and Jude Bellingham have not posted messages[3]. Alonso's relationship with Vinícius soured after the Brazilian's angry reaction to a substitution in October's Clásico, leading to multiple benchings and ongoing strain, which sources cited as a factor in the sacking[3].

Real Madrid's statement hailed Alonso as a "club legend" who embodies their values, extending thanks to him and his staff[2]. Players learned of the news via the official announcement, catching them by surprise[1]. (Word count: 298)