Xabi Alonso on the touchline for Real Madrid during LaLiga match at the Bernabeu
Real Madrid’s handling of Xabi Alonso has come under heavy criticism after Bayer Leverkusen CEO Fernando Carro accused the club’s hierarchy of leaving the coach “isolated” amid mounting pressure and early sack rumours.
Alonso’s return to the Santiago Bernabeu was meant to signal the dawn of a new era, but a turbulent start has already placed the former midfield maestro firmly under the spotlight in Spain’s unforgiving football environment.
Alonso’s reign at Real Madrid has quickly turned into a stern test of resilience. Consecutive home defeats to Celta Vigo and Manchester City triggered intense media scrutiny, with reports suggesting the 44-year-old could be shown the door just months into the job.
Although Madrid steadied themselves with a narrow 2-1 win over Deportivo Alaves, the noise surrounding Alonso’s future has refused to die down — a situation Carro believes stems from deep-rooted structural issues at the Spanish giants.
Speaking to Sky, Carro did not hold back when discussing the contrast between Alonso’s experience in Germany and his current situation in Madrid. According to the Leverkusen chief, the problem is not Alonso’s coaching ability but the culture at the Bernabeu.
“If the president says that a coach is a necessary evil, if the coach is left alone and it is always he who receives the criticism, then the situation is very different,” Carro said.
He added that Alonso thrived at Leverkusen because the entire club moved in one direction:
“In Leverkusen, we all rowed together and never left the coach politically alone.”
The comments appear to be a direct swipe at Florentino Perez, whose long-standing philosophy has often placed players and presidents above managers in the club’s power structure.
Under Carro’s leadership, Alonso enjoyed unprecedented success at Leverkusen, guiding the club to a historic unbeaten domestic double and cementing his reputation as one of Europe’s brightest young coaches.
That supportive environment, Carro suggests, has been replaced by isolation and instant judgment in Madrid — a place where patience is scarce and expectations are relentless.
Despite Alonso’s struggles, Carro revealed that their relationship remains as strong as ever. The Leverkusen CEO recently spent time with Alonso and his family during the international break, underlining the depth of their bond.
“During those three years, we were like a family,” Carro said. “We follow each other’s matches, we stay in close contact, and there is a lot of appreciation on both sides.”
With pressure mounting and Madrid’s season finely balanced, Alonso’s ability to navigate the political and sporting chaos at the Bernabeu may prove just as important as his tactical ideas. Whether Real Madrid choose patience or repetition of history remains to be seen.
One thing is clear: outside Spain, powerful voices believe Alonso deserves far more backing than he is currently receiving.
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