Xabi Alonso admits Real Madrid left him with ‘a scar’ | OneFootball

Former Real Madrid head coach Xabi Alonso has this weekend opened up on his departure from the club. And the Spaniard did not hesitate in admitting that he was left, at the time, hurt by the situation.

Tactician Alonso was of course installed on the bench in Spain’s capital in the summer of 2025.

At the time, the ex-midfield maestro’s arrival was considered something of a fresh start for Real Madrid, featuring new ideas and a new vision of the game following a trophyless campaign under Carlo Ancelotti the year prior.

Alonso’s Bernabéu stint, however, barely lasted six months… Amid claims of mounting problems behind the scenes at Valdebebas, the 44-year-old was unceremoniously sent on his way in January of this year.

Alonso’s reputation was evidently not too heavily damaged in the process, with the Spaniard having since secured a swift return to work with Premier League heavyweights Chelsea.

But as alluded to above, this does not mean that he himself was not significantly impacted by the call made by Florentino Pérez and co. earlier this year.

Speaking during an exchange with The Athletic on Sunday, Alonso admitted:

“Luckily there are not too many scars in my career. So, okay, I got a scar (after being sacked in Madrid), but this heals. Now it is healed, and I am very motivated and determined to enjoy this next step as I did when I started in Madrid.”

Conor Laird – GSFN