Jurgen Klopp
January 2026
Klopp said he was genuinely surprised by Madrid’s decision and rejected any suggestion he is a candidate to replace Alonso. He framed the sacking as proof of extreme expectations and short time horizons at Madrid, saying the situation did not trigger any desire to return to management.
Vinicius Jr
January 2026
Vinicius and Simeone exchanged words on the touchline when the Real forward was substituted during Madrid’s Super Cup semi-final win over Atletico in Saudi Arabia. TV audio captured Simeone taunting Vinicius about Florentino Perez. Simeone later downplayed it, saying what happens on the pitch stays there while stressing respect for Madrid players.
Kylian Mbappe
January 2026
Real Madrid ruled Kylian Mbappe out of the entire Spanish Super Cup due to a left-knee sprain, opting not to take him to Saudi Arabia, while Trent Alexander-Arnold returns to the travelling squad. Madrid’s medical staff and hierarchy chose a conservative plan after Mbappe played through the issue in recent weeks, deciding he will only return when fully fit and not for a short-term final.
Jude Bellingham
January 2026
Gordon Strachan defended Jude Bellingham and said both Xabi Alonso and Thomas Tuchel need to protect him amid ongoing criticism around his behaviour for England. The midfielder has become a focal point for scrutiny at international level. Strachan echoed Ian Wright’s stance that controversy is being manufactured around Bellingham, and argued leadership from club and country must shield him while keeping standards high. The message is that the noise should not be allowed to define him.
Endrick
December 2025
Brazilian forward Endrick has secured a six-month loan from Real Madrid to Lyon, leaving the Bernabeu in search of regular minutes after struggling for game time under Xabi Alonso, with the Ligue 1 club handing the 19-year-old the No. 9 shirt. Vinicius Junior marked the move with a supportive Instagram message, calling Endrick his brother and urging him to succeed in France, as the teenager prepares to join Paulo Fonseca’s squad, adapt to Ligue 1 and relaunch his push for club and Brazil opportunities.
Thibaut Courtois
December 2025
Courtois publicly defended Alonso after back to back home defeats, insisting the squad remains united behind the coach. He said the display against City showed players are still fighting to change a run that includes only two wins in eight matches. The goalkeeper framed criticism and tension at the Bernabeu as a natural reaction to poor results, but rejected talk of a fractured dressing room. He stressed that the group accepts responsibility for recent setbacks and will work collectively to reverse the current negative momentum.
Erling Haaland
December 2025
Manchester City overturned a 1-0 deficit to beat Real Madrid 2-1 away, with Nico O’Reilly’s close-range finish and an Erling Haaland penalty cancelling out Rodrygo’s opener and pushing City up to fourth in the Champions League league-phase standings. Madrid briefly thought they had an early penalty before VAR ruled Matheus Nunes’ foul outside the box, and after Rodrygo’s breakaway strike, City exploited Madrid’s defensive lapses, with Haaland punishing Antonio Rüdiger’s foul while the hosts were later denied by misses from Jude Bellingham and Endrick.
Xabi Alonso
December 2025
Xabi Alonso has named Kylian Mbappe in Real Madrid’s squad to face Manchester City despite recent leg concerns, gambling on his talisman’s availability as he fights for his job after a poor run that includes only two wins in seven matches across all competitions. Mbappe skipped open training and was reported to have left leg discomfort, yet his 25 goals and heavy share of Madrid’s scoring have made him almost undroppable. With injuries, suspensions and growing pressure after the Celta defeat, Alonso framed the City match as a shared last chance to spark a season that is drifting.
