Real Madrid: what Gareth Bale holds against Xabi Alonso

In partnership with

Foot Africa

·22 gennaio 2026

Real Madrid: what Gareth Bale holds against Xabi Alonso

Gareth Bale

Former player and Real Madrid legend, Gareth Bale hasn't held back when it comes to Xabi Alonso.

OneFootball Video

In recent hours, Gareth Bale has spoken candidly about Xabi Alonso's stint on the Real Madrid bench. The Welshman did not question the Spanish coach's abilities, but focused on explaining the reasons behind his struggles.

"He's an incredible coach. What he achieved at Bayer Leverkusen is remarkable—he won trophies and got his team playing fantastic football. But when you arrive at Real Madrid, it's not enough to just be a coach; you have to be a manager as well," said the former Real Madrid player.

For Bale, the main challenge lies in managing a dressing room full of stars: "You have to know how to handle egos. It's not necessarily about tactics. There are superstars who can decide a match all by themselves."