From the very first day in charge of Real Madrid, Xabi Alonso has wanted to make it clear that he hasn't come to continue what was done before. His idea is ambitious, structured, and has its own stamp. It starts with the way they train and touch the balls in Valdebebas.
An apparently simple rule has put the locker room on alert: no more than three touches per player. Whoever breaks the rule will be punished. It sounds like a disciplinary measure, but in reality, it's a statement of intent.
Xabi learned this methodology at Bayern Munich, under Pep Guardiola's orders. Now he wants to apply it at Santiago Bernabéu, aware that Real Madrid needs more than individual quality to keep competing with the best in Europe.
End of vertigo and controlled chaos
With this rule, Xabi intends to bury the organized chaos that has so often saved Real Madrid in recent years. The endless counterattacks and broken matches are over. The new plan is about total control, possession, and playing with one or two touches.
It's a tactical revolution that will directly affect players like Vinícius Júnior. The Brazilian has been Madrid's main offensive asset in recent seasons. His football thrives on dribbling, space, and creative freedom.
In a more mechanical and disciplined system, with more structured attacks, Vinícius may see his influence reduced. He'll have fewer yards (meters) to run, fewer one-on-one situations, and less room to improvise.
From anarchy to structure
Xabi Alonso has made it clear that he wants a dominant Madrid, one that controls the pace of the match through possession, not reaction. Waiting for the opponent's mistake and bursting forward is no longer enough. Now it's about building plays, moving the ball with precision and patience.
This transition won't be easy. There are footballers used to a different play style. One of the most exposed is, precisely, Vinícius. Xabi knows it, and he won't hesitate to make bold decisions if the Brazilian doesn't adapt to the new philosophy.
The goal is clear: to create a Madrid that commands with the ball. To do that, some virtues of the past must be sacrificed. Even if that means limiting one of the team's biggest stars.