Despite the relative improvement in performance shown during the Spanish Super Cup final, it was not enough for Xabi Alonso to continue as head coach of Real Madrid. Pressure had been mounting over the past weeks due to the team's declining physical condition, numerous injuries, the distancing from key players, and the lack of signs from the management indicating the possibility of turning results in the team's favor.

The project that began last June during the Club World Cup, which Alonso had hoped would mark the start of his journey with the club in the new season, started to go off course from the beginning of December, amid daily rumors of his dismissal following every match, especially after the 2-0 loss against Celta Vigo.

After the team returned from their trip to Jeddah following the loss in the Spanish Super Cup final, Florentino Pérez, the club president, and José Ángel Sánchez, the chief operating officer, held a meeting with Alonso, where they mutually agreed to terminate the contract that was set to run until June 30, 2028.

The club has decided that Álvaro Arbeloa will take over as head coach of the first team until the end of the current season, with the contract to be signed in the coming days.

The defeat against Barcelona was the final blow that confirmed Alonso's decision to leave, following a series of demands made by the club officials, particularly regarding improving the team's physical condition and reducing injuries, the latest of which occurred in Saudi Arabia with the injuries to Valverde and Hausen.

The first step was bringing Dr. Miko Nehic back to the medical staff, followed by Antonio Pintus returning to daily work with the first team to replace the physical preparation previously overseen by Alonso. Pintus, who had previously worked with Zidane and Ancelotti, returns to be the cornerstone for the beginning of Arbeloa's era with the team.

The crisis between Alonso and Vinícius Júnior contributed to escalating the tension, as the coach in recent days has shown a completely different image compared to how he appeared at the start of his career as Real Madrid's coach. This was evident both in the semifinal against Atlético Madrid and in Sunday’s match against Barcelona, which also saw some tension with Simeone and Flick, due to the pressures the coach has faced in recent weeks.