Real Madrid’s injury crisis has taken on alarming proportions in Xabi Alonso’s debut season, mirroring the difficulties the club faced throughout the 2024/25 campaign.
What many hoped would improve under a new coaching structure has instead spiralled into an even deeper problem, one that the club appears increasingly unable to control or fully understand.
To put things in perspective, the numbers are staggering, as 23 out of 25 first-team players have already suffered injuries this season.
In fact, as reported by Mundo Deportivo, the scale of the problem has left club puzzled, frustrated and urgently searching for answers.
Internally, there is growing disbelief over how such an avalanche of injuries could occur in such a short window of time.
What is going on at Real Madrid?
Notably, Alonso arrived with a new fitness coach and a revamped training methodology, intended to modernise the team’s physical preparation.
But within the club, suspicion is beginning to grow that these changes may be playing a key role in the current injury epidemic.
Injuries at Real Madrid are hurting the team. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)
While officials do acknowledge that the pre-season was unusual and that a congested schedule has added strain, they refuse to attribute the crisis solely to those factors.
Amid the confusion, one name has resurfaced with increasing frequency is that of Antonio Pintus.
The renowned fitness coach remains at Real Madrid but was removed from first-team responsibilities once Alonso took over.
Was it a mistake?
Now, with injuries piling up, several voices are beginning to wonder whether sidelining Pintus was a mistake.
However, the debate is far from straightforward. While Pintus is revered for his demanding physical programmes, it is also true that the injury record during his tenure was far from spotless.
For now, Real Madrid are left trying to strike a balance between immediate necessities and long-term planning.
What is undeniable is that the injury chaos is severely compromising the team’s performance. In fact, it is destabilising all the preparations of Alonso’s project.