Xabi Alonso calls Mbappé and Vinícius during their vacation: 'Not with me'

Real Madrid expects to bring about major changes with Xabi Alonso's arrival to the home bench at Santiago Bernabéu. The succession of Carlo Ancelotti, at least for now, is much less pronounced than many indicated... considering the signings made from the Valdebebas offices in the defensive area.

The signings of Dean Huijsen and Trent Alexander-Arnold were transfers requested by the Reggiolo coach during the summer 2024 and winter 2025 transfer windows. However, the white sporting management seemed to ignore those requests for first-team reinforcements, leading to the well-known results in the current soccer season.

Xabi Alonso, however, has devised changes that go beyond the morphology of the first team. According to information published by MARCA, he has reportedly conveyed this through various messages: the Basque coach wants a total defensive commitment from the strikers to keep the block intact. According to the former Bayer Leverkusen coach, the defensive effort required from the footballers is more collective than individual, keeping the formation's order during moments of overwhelming opposition.

To communicate this key aspect of his soccer philosophy, which closely follows the search for the "balance" that Carlo Ancelotti couldn't find, Xabi Alonso has spoken with several merengue stars. Especially with the players expected to form the starting forward duo in his new tactical scheme: Kylian Mbappé and Vinícius Jr.

Golden rule

Both players aren't known for their extensive defensive sacrifices. Not for nothing are they always the most advanced footballers in the white scheme, aiming to make the most of a possible counterattack. While that arrangement would be kept with Xabi Alonso, the French striker and the verdeamarelo forward will have to show solidarity with their teammates.

So much so that the new Real Madrid coach has made the consequences of failing to follow that order very clear: "those who don't get involved won't play with me". Thus, Vinícius's and Kylian Mbappé's participation depends exclusively on their ability to make defensive sacrifices... both in their own half, helping with tracking back and covering opposing fullbacks, and in the opponent's half through advanced pressing.

This statement from Xabi Alonso to Real Madrid's '9' and '7', right in the middle of the pre-Club World Cup vacation, is aimed at their adaptation to the new situation. Because the Basque coach is willing to leave out some of his supposedly undisputed starters if they can't offer the commitment he demands for the team to function properly.

Now everything depends on Kylian Mbappé and Vinícius Jr., who have been properly warned by their coach about this change in tactical dynamics. While the forwards prepare themselves mentally for the dilemma they now face, Xabi Alonso continues with the planning to make the Club World Cup a success.