Real Madrid's locker room has always been a space for coexistence among different nationalities, but also fertile ground for cliques and leadership struggles. Since Xabi Alonso arrived on the white bench, he has made it clear that he won't allow those divisions to shape his project. However, he has made strategic decisions that affect the group's daily life.
The coach wants to bring back the competitive spirit the team had during his time as a player, when he shared the locker room with Casillas, Arbeloa, or Ramos. Back then, the leadership of the Spanish footballers set the tone and keeping the balance was much easier. Now, with a more international locker room than ever, the task is more complex.
The Brazilian clan loses influence
Xabi Alonso's first major decision has been to reduce the influence of the Brazilian group. Vinícius, Rodrygo, Militao, and the young Endrick form a strong core, to which Valverde is often added due to his personal closeness. However, the coach has decided to put an end to any attempt at hegemony around them.
The Basque coach believes that, despite their quality, this clan's tendency to set their own internal rules doesn't help coexistence. He wants a locker room where everyone rows in the same direction, not a space where some players accumulate more power than necessary.
Support for the French and Spanish group
Meanwhile, Xabi Alonso has taken a step forward in favor of the French clan, which has become one of the most powerful in recent years. With figures like Mbappé, Tchouaméni, or Camavinga, as well as Mendy and Courtois, the group has talent, discipline, and growing influence.
The coach believes that relying on them, along with the Spanish players, is the key to building a solid project. Carvajal, as captain, is the central piece of that leadership, joined by names like Asensio, Fran García, Brahim, Ceballos, or the young Gonzalo, Carreras, and Huijsen. With that combination, Alonso aims to recover the essence of commitment and hierarchy that once characterized the merengue locker room.
The neutrals, in no man's land
Meanwhile, an important group of players remains on the sidelines of these dynamics. Footballers like Bellingham, Alexander-Arnold, Arda Güler, Rüdiger, Alaba, or Lunin prefer not to get involved in the locker room's internal politics. They focus on competing and keeping good relationships with everyone, without getting into power games.
For Xabi Alonso, this neutrality is also valuable, as it avoids unnecessary tensions. Nevertheless, his priority is clear: to strengthen the influence of the Spanish and French players as the team's leadership core.
A clear message to the locker room
With this stance, the coach sends a strong message: no one will have more power than the group. Real Madrid must recover the unity and hierarchy that led it to dominate Europe. To achieve this, Alonso doesn't hesitate to shake up old balances.