Xabi Alonso began his first training session with Real Madrid on Monday, in the absence of several international players. However, he held a series of important meetings with key players, most notably Rodrygo and David Alaba. With a clear desire to outline his vision and expectations for each player, the Spanish coach is handling Alaba’s situation with caution and transparency, giving him complete freedom to negotiate with any other club if he wishes to leave, while clarifying his firm position regarding Alaba’s role in the team next season.
Alonso will start his first training session without many international players present, but he plans to hold several meetings with the squad, especially with Rodrygo and Alaba. Regarding Alaba, Alonso has agreed with the club’s management to grant him full freedom to negotiate with any other team if he desires. He told him, “In principle, we don’t depend on you, but if you want to stay, you’ll be an additional player.”
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Alonso wants direct dialogue with all players to explain his vision and expectations. This is his approach, which the club highly values.
Alaba’s situation is particularly significant. He is among the highest-paid players on the team, and although he currently has no desire to leave Real Madrid, a conversation with Alonso might prompt him to reconsider. The difficulty lies in finding a club willing to pay his high salary, especially given his injury history.
Initially, some club officials hoped Alaba would return to contributing to the team despite injuries and knee pain that have affected his ability to play regularly. Despite everything, the player continues to strive to perform at his best, with his contract running until June 2026. However, he faces increasing health challenges due to his age and recurring injuries.
Real Madrid treats this situation with great seriousness and respect and is not pressuring Alaba to leave, but expects him to accept the reality and be clear about his role in the new project.
The decision now lies with Alaba: will he stay and try to prove himself to Xabi Alonso, or will he choose to seek a new opportunity elsewhere?
