Overview
- The club confirmed a mutual termination with Alonso less than 24 hours after a 3-2 defeat to Barcelona in the Supercopa final.
- Reserve-team coach Álvaro Arbeloa was appointed immediately, bringing youth-level success at the club but no prior first-team managerial experience.
- Multiple reports say Alonso and the squad were caught off guard by the speed of the decision, with some players learning of it via the club’s social media posts.
- Social videos show Kylian Mbappé motioning teammates away from a guard of honour that Alonso had requested for Barcelona, a moment cited in coverage as reflecting internal frictions.
- Reporting points to board doubts over Alonso’s project and fitness concerns, with the return of fitness coach Antonio Pintus noted, while links to longer-term, high-profile candidates such as Jürgen Klopp remain unconfirmed.