Vinicius Junior and 4 Real Madrid Players Reportedly Unhappy with Xabi Alonso
- Real Madrid head coach Xabi Alonso is thought to be at odds with a number of his superstars
- Among those who are believed to be uneasy with Alonso's way of playing are Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Junior
- Three other players are thought to have an issue with Alonso's tactics as tensions rise at the Bernabeu
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Reports from Spain suggest that five Real Madrid players are growing increasingly unhappy with head coach Xabi Alonso, despite his impressive start to life at the Santiago Bernabéu.
Since taking charge, Alonso has guided Los Blancos to the top of La Liga, winning 10, drawing one, and losing just one of their opening 12 matches.
In Europe, Real Madrid have also shown strong form, winning three of their four Champions League fixtures, though they suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat to Liverpool at Anfield last week.
Source: Getty Images
Domestically, they hold a three-point lead over Barcelona following their 2-1 victory in El Clásico late last month.
However, tensions appear to be brewing behind the scenes despite the club’s strong position.
Real Madrid were held to a frustrating 0-0 draw against Rayo Vallecano on Sunday, a result that has raised questions about the team’s recent performances.
Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo has since reported that parts of the dressing room “show little to no connection” with Alonso, hinting at early signs of discord within the squad.
5 Real Madrid players unhappy with Alonso
Among those who are struggling to work well with Alonso are Thibaut Courtois, Vinicius Jnr, and Jude Bellingham.
All three of the players are believed to have issues with the manager's tactics, specifically his desire to play the ball out from the back.
Vinicius Jnr has shown visible frustration with his manager throughout the season, most notably after being substituted during the clash with Barcelona.
Although he later apologised to his teammates, the club, and its president for his behaviour, Alonso was pointedly left out of his statement.
Source: Getty Images
Alongside Vinicius, Bellingham, Courtois, Eduardo Camavinga, and Fede Valverde are also said to be discontent with Alonso’s methods, with the latter two struggling to secure regular spots in his preferred starting XI.
Both players have often been deployed out of position, with Valverde filling in at right-back in the absence of injured captain Dani Carvajal and Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Daily Mail also suggest that Alonso’s intense training methods, featuring drone footage, video analysis, and complex tactical sessions, have caused unrest among the squad.
Some players are said to long for the more relaxed management styles of Zinedine Zidane and Carlo Ancelotti, who both delivered Champions League glory with a lighter touch.
Senior players unimpressed with Alonso
Earlier, YEN.com.gh reported that Real Madrid’s players reportedly believe Xabi Alonso has an inflated sense of self, with some claiming he “thinks he’s Pep Guardiola.”
Several high-profile stars are said to be frustrated with his demanding training methods, fuelling rumours of a growing rift between the squad and their new manager.
Source: YEN.com.gh
