Because of Kylian Mbappé… Xabi Alonso Faces His First Major Dilemma at Real Madrid
Xabi Alonso began his tenure at Real Madrid with urgent matters to address in the locker room. Former coach Carlo Ancelotti had faced difficulties managing player ego clashes, prompting Alonso to act swiftly and decisively to prevent internal issues from affecting the squad’s performance.
One of the first major steps Alonso took was holding a crucial conversation with Kylian Mbappé. Reports indicate that the meeting centered on a key challenge: Mbappé’s tense relationship with teammate Vinícius Júnior. The two stars have had very limited communication, yet their ability to work together on the pitch is essential for the club’s future success. Alonso is working diligently to improve their connection.
He specifically asked Mbappé to be more collaborative with Vinícius during games, pointing out that the two still lack mutual understanding. Although their debut season showed occasional signs of potential chemistry, tensions remain—largely because both prefer to play on the left wing, creating direct competition for position.
This situation has become one of the main challenges Alonso is addressing as the team prepares for the Club World Cup in the United States. He sees building a strong partnership between Mbappé and Vinícius as critical to Real Madrid’s performance and is focused on resolving it quickly to ensure both players feel comfortable and aligned on the field.
Still, the battle of egos and each player’s desire to be the primary star may obstruct that goal. Furthermore, both have shown weaknesses when it comes to tracking back and defending. As a result, Alonso has adopted a strict policy: every player must contribute defensively. He has made it clear that no one is untouchable—any player who falls short of expectations, regardless of their status, could be benched.
