Xabi Alonso’s unbeaten campaign with Bayer Leverkusen is starting to look less like a blueprint for elite management and more like a total anomaly. Despite some supporters initially backing him over the squad’s star names during a turbulent tenure, the World Cup reminded everyone of the true caliber of players like Kylian Mbappé, Jude Bellingham, and Vinícius Júnior. Meanwhile, José Mourinho has stepped in and immediately shown far more vocal support for the squad than Alonso ever managed.
After being shown the door in Madrid following a tense spell and a slide in results, Alonso landed at Chelsea—a job he took after Liverpool opted for Andoni Iraola instead. Yet, his early moves in London are already raising eyebrows among the Stamford Bridge faithful, while rival fans look on in disbelief at his reported recruitment strategy.
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According to Fabrizio Romano, Chelsea are closing in on a surprise free-agent move for veteran midfielder Jordan Henderson from Brentford. On top of that, Alonso has reportedly given the green light to sign Danny Welbeck as a backup striking option behind João Pedro.
While experienced depth has its place, this recruitment profile marks a bizarre shift for a Chelsea side constructed around high-potential talent and elite prospects. Targeting players like Henderson, Welbeck, and Granit Xhaka—even with Xhaka’s solid form—feels out of step with top-tier ambition.
In hindsight, Real Madrid appear to have made the right call moving on. The contrast between Madrid’s current trajectory under Mourinho and Alonso’s early, puzzling decisions in London highlights a clear difference in direction and management style.
