Xabi Alonso to be replaced by ex-Liverpool player if Real Madrid don’t beat Alavés

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Real Madrid could replace Xabi Alonso with former Liverpool team-mate Álvaro Arbeloa if the club fail to beat Alavés, according to the article. The report says pressure is mounting on Alonso after a series of disappointing results, and the club’s hierarchy are ready to act quickly should Madrid drop points against Alavés.[1]

The piece explains that Arbeloa—who played alongside Alonso at both Liverpool and Real Madrid and is currently working within Real’s coaching structure—has emerged as a realistic short-term candidate because of his familiarity with the club and his ongoing work with the youth teams (Castilla). Promoting from inside is portrayed as an attractive option to minimize disruption while giving the squad continuity.[1]

Article coverage emphasises that the decision would be pragmatic rather than a long-term solution: Arbeloa’s in-house appointment would stabilize the team while the board assesses bigger-name possibilities if a permanent vacancy opens. The story links the immediate trigger for such a change to a specific poor result (failing to beat Alavés), framing it as a make-or-break fixture for Alonso’s immediate future.[1]

Finally, the article places this development in the wider context of intense scrutiny around Real Madrid managers, noting that several external candidates have been discussed in the media but that an internal, stop-gap promotion remains the likeliest immediate move should the club opt for a rapid response to poor form.[1]