The collapse of Xabi Alonso’s tenure at Real Madrid has been linked to a core group of “untouchable” stars.
Sources close to the former manager name Vinícius Júnior, Jude Bellingham, and Federico Valverde as the primary figures who rejected his tactical vision.
While Vinícius Jr.’s defiance frequently played out through public outbursts, Bellingham was reportedly more subtle, harboring a private reluctance to adapt to Alonso’s structured system.
This internal resistance created a terminal rift, proving that even a coach of Alonso’s pedigree could not overcome the entrenched “player power” currently defining the Madrid dressing room.