Former Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti reportedly issued a strong warning to his successor, Xabi Alonso, about the internal challenges he would face inside the Santiago Bernabéu dressing room, it has now been revealed.
The disclosure was made by respected Spanish football journalist Guillem Balague in his column for the BBC, where he detailed private conversations said to have taken place before Ancelotti’s departure.
According to Balague, Ancelotti believed Alonso would struggle to control certain high-profile personalities in the squad due to large egos and conflicting personal ambitions among key players.
The veteran Italian tactician was quoted as having told Alonso that “this was the most difficult dressing room of his career.”
Ancelotti reportedly went further by naming individuals and outlining the issues he felt could destabilise the team. He claimed, “Kylian Mbappe thinks about his records. Vinicius worries about not losing his authority in the team. Federico Valverde wants to play in midfield and doesn’t yet have the maturity expected from a captain.”
These revelations have surfaced at a critical moment for Real Madrid, as reports in Spain suggest Alonso may already be struggling to command the dressing room amid a poor run of form and disappointing results.
Pressure on the former Bayer Leverkusen coach has intensified, with widespread speculation that his position could be under serious threat if Real Madrid suffer defeat against Manchester City in their crucial UEFA Champions League clash on Wednesday night.
The situation has continued to fuel debate about leadership, player power and dressing room politics at one of Europe’s most successful football clubs, with fans and analysts closely watching how Alonso navigates the growing storm.
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