Former Real Madrid midfielder Ivan Helguera questioned the club’s decision to dismiss Xabi Alonso, arguing the judgment came too quickly and raising doubts about the promotion of Álvaro Arbeloa as his replacement.
Speaking on the Bajo Palos podcast with former teammate Iker Casillas, Helguera said that while Alonso’s football did not fully convince him, the team was structurally sound and difficult for opponents to break down. In his view, the club should have allowed more time to properly evaluate
the project before making such a drastic move.
“I think they should have waited until February or March to judge. By then, we would have seen how the team was really doing. They were too hasty in sacking Xabi Alonso,” Helguera said.
Helguera also questioned the decision to elevate Arbeloa to the first team, highlighting the lack of top-flight coaching experience and contrasting the move with the path taken by Raul at Castilla.
“Raul spent many years with the reserve team and it never went to his head. Then they bring in Arbeloa, who had never coached in La Liga. That same day he was promoted, he’d lost 4-1 with Castilla. It’s absurd. I think Raul would have handled this better because he’s been captain, he’s lived through this kind of situation, and he has personality. I don’t think Arbeloa was the right guy” Helguera added.
