Kylian Mbappé Bids Farewell to Xabi Alonso Amid Real Madrid Controversy

Real Madrid announced on Monday the mutual departure of manager Xabi Alonso after just eight months in charge, replacing him with reserves coach Álvaro Arbeloa. The decision followed a 3-2 defeat to Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final in Saudi Arabia, exacerbating poor form and internal tensions.[2][3]

Kylian Mbappé was the first high-profile player to publicly react, posting a heartfelt Instagram tribute with a photo of himself and Alonso. "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," he wrote. Under Alonso, Mbappé scored 29 goals and provided five assists in 25 matches, despite reported tactical clashes.[2][3][4]

Notably, stars Vinícius Júnior and Jude Bellingham have not yet commented publicly, fueling speculation. Vinícius had a strained relationship with Alonso since an angry substitution in October's Clásico, leading to multiple benchings. A viral incident post-Super Cup saw Mbappé wave off teammates forming a guard of honor for Barcelona, seen as challenging Alonso's authority.[1][3]

Other players quickly paid tribute: Tchouaméni ("Thank you for everything... one of the best"), Rodrygo, Rüdiger, Carvajal, Alaba, and others expressed gratitude for Alonso's trust and knowledge. The club statement praised Alonso as a "legend" embodying Madrid values.[2][4]

Despite brief mid-season improvement (five wins before the final), Madrid trails Barcelona by four points in LaLiga after losses to Liverpool, Celta Vigo, and Manchester City. Sources indicate the sacking stemmed from Vinícius handling, poor results, and play, not true mutual consent.[3]

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