Speaking on El Tercer Tiempo on Movistar+, Jorge Valdano analyzed Xabi Alonso’s departure from Real Madrid and described a tenure marked by instability and a lack of institutional backing.
“I saw Xabi Alonso
as unstable from the first day. I never felt he had the support of the club,” Valdano said. He pointed to a key moment during the Christmas period. “When Florentino gave that speech at Christmas and didn’t mention Xabi, from that moment the situation seemed especially delicate to me. Xabi was in a position of instability and discomfort.”
Valdano also highlighted structural issues within the squad. “There were many injuries and the team lacks a strategist, and we all know how important that is. Sometimes a single player can make the whole team function much more harmoniously, and Madrid didn’t have that player.”
Despite the outcome, Valdano defended Alonso’s efforts. “Xabi tried different formulas, we can’t say he didn’t try. He also had to deal with playing with many injured players, and that marked his time at Real Madrid, despite arriving with an impeccable track record at the highest level.”
Valdano then turned to Alonso’s successor. On Álvaro Arbeloa, he said: “He knows the club inside out because he’s been part of the institution for years. He knows Xabi, so he surely has inside information about everything that goes on in the first team. Now we just have to wait and see how he manages to build a competitive team that is proactive in all competitions, which is what Real Madrid demands.”
