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Real Madrid Parts Ways With Xabi Alonso, Promotes Alvaro Arbeloa to First-Team Role

Reports tie the change to internal frictions, including a dispute over fitness coach Antonio Pintus.

Overview

  • The club said the separation was by mutual agreement and confirmed Arbeloa’s elevation from Castilla to head coach.
  • Antonio Pintus returned to first-team duties and directed training following the coaching change.
  • Coverage describes strained relations with Florentino Pérez and dressing-room flashpoints, including Kylian Mbappé’s refusal to join a post-final guard of honor and a prior Vinícius outburst.
  • Alonso’s 231-day tenure spanned 34 matches with 24 wins and 6 defeats, ending after a 2-3 Supercopa loss to Barcelona.
  • Arbeloa steps in without top-level managerial experience and is reported to have close ties to an agency run by Pérez’s son, with early fixtures against Albacete, Levante and Monaco set to shape his start.