Real Madrid new senior manager, Xabi Alonso read to write his history with the Madrid giants. Image: Madrid Xtra shared via X
When Real Madrid plays Al Hilal in the redesigned FIFA Club World Cup, the squad will formally begin the Xabi Alonso era. The 43-year-old strategist has high hopes for his return to the Bernabeu following his triumphs with Bayer Leverkusen and Real Sociedad’s B team.
The president of Real Madrid’s footballing White House has been replaced. Head coach Xabi Alonso gets his first taste of playing club football in the highest division in the recently revamped Club World Cup.
He will go off against Al Hilal, who are the recipients of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund’s substantial investment in international football initiatives. Fans have high expectations for the coach, who was born in Tolosa, but why and what can they anticipate?
Alonso takes over a legacy that he values and wants to uphold. He acknowledged Carlo Ancelotti’s influence on the Santiago Bernabeu and lauded the coach during his opening news conference. Fans swiftly moved past moments of tactical stasis during Ancelotti’s final season, which was notable primarily for the lacklustre performance against Athletic Bilbao, thanks to a seamless transitioning approach.
It is imperative that such helplessness not be replicated. With 140 games played for Bayer Leverkusen, Alonso has demonstrated his ability to adjust to the demands of contemporary positional play, which include dynamic midfielders, defensively adaptable backlines, full-backs offering width, and an interchangeable front line.
Madrid’s team is well equipped to carry out his plan since he will require total coordination between Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior, and Rodygo all of whom have been the subject of recent transfer rumours.
Alonso will probably get the most out of the latest addition to Madrid’s sporting endeavour, Dean Huijsen, Jude Bellingham’s versatility, and Fede Valverde’s unwavering engine.
High press, a crucial component of contemporary football, is anticipated to be given top priority under the coach’s leadership. Although tactical subtlety will be important, transforming stars into a cohesive defensive force will be equally important. His approaches on the pitch are highly anticipated because his early training sessions have shown the kind of intensity he plans to instill.
Last summer, Madrid only acquired Mbappe and Endrick. They signed Franco Mastantuono from River Plate, Trent Alexander-Arnold from Liverpool, and Dean Huijsen from Bournemouth ahead of the Club World Cup mini-transfer window.
These new hires are full of promise and youth-oriented, making them perfect for the manager’s long-term growth plan. Huijsen struggles with centre-back consistency, which many believed Madrid lacked in the previous campaign, in part because of injuries and Ancelotti’s sparse use of the youth players.
While Alexander-Arnold’s signing creates a tactical conundrum, he might thrive in Alonso’s system by overlapping behind Mbappe, Vinícius, and Rodygo. However, his offensive impulses must be balanced defensively.
The only one with the most compelling argument is 17-year-old Mastantuono. He is seen as an up and coming talent, a raw diamond that Alonso can shape into a world renowned star because of his incredible ball control and goal in the Superclasico. He will, however, play for River Plate in the 2025 Club World Cup, thus he won’t sign with Los Blancos until after the competition is over.
Young players like Endrick had fewer minutes due to Summer’s attacking overload; supporters wished Ancelotti had used him more. That ratio ought to shift under Alonso, whose experience at Real Sociedad points to a more robust pipeline for academy players.
The team’s average age and reliance on established stars would decline if Endrick were to play more and Huijsen and Mastantuono were to receive regular minutes, which would put pressure on the starting lineup and inspire the younger players.
Fans wished Ancelotti had used Summer more often because of his attacking overload, which limited his playing time for kids like Endrick. This balance should shift under Alonso because of his Real Sociedad experience, which points to a more robust pipeline for academy talent.
The team’s average age and reliance on veteran stars would decline if Humijsen and Mastantuono started playing regularly and Endrick got more involved, which would put pressure on the starting lineup and inspire the younger players.
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