Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso is reportedly set for showdown talks with two major Los Blancos stars following their humiliating Club World Cup elimination against Paris Saint-Germain. The 15-time European champions succumbed to a resounding 4-0 defeat - Alonso's first in charge - in their semi-final match-up in New Jersey.
The result, and more importantly, the manner in which Madrid were dispatched, has raised plenty of question marks ahead of Alonso's debut season in charge of the club. But apparently, the Spaniard is ready to lay down the law, as he is set to remind two of his biggest names exactly what he expects of them.
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Alonso to Warn Mbappe and Vinicius Junior
The Spanish coach has concerns regarding the two superstars' work rate
According to a report from Spanish outlet Marca, Alonso is set to hold talks with attacking Galacticos Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior regarding concerns over their work rate. It is claimed that the Madrid leadership circle are worried about the lack of teamwork and cohesion within the squad, with negative gestures towards teammates becoming a regular theme towards the end of Carlo Ancelotti's tenure.
The club believe Vinicius' form has significantly dropped off since his Ballon d'Or snub less than 12 months ago, while Mbappe's lack of defensive work rate has been an issue dating back well before the Club World Cup, where he missed a portion of the tournament due to illness.
It is stated that figures at the club were aware of these problems prior to Alonso's arrival, but the former midfielder has also identified the same issues in his short time at the helm and plans to address them.
This is not the first time Madrid’s inter-squad unity has been questioned, with goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois even calling out some of his teammates following their Champions League defeat to Arsenal. The Belgian shared similar sentiments after the loss against PSG on Wednesday, saying:
"We didn't press as a team. There were two big mistakes at the start of the game and that affected us. We failed to follow Xabi's plan for the game. We need to take time and analyse it, but from what I saw, we were always arriving late to every situation."
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All statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt - accurate as of 11/07/2025.