The comparative lack of academy talents coming into the Real Madrid first team has been a talking point over the past year, but there has been some suggestion that the advent of Xabi Alonso could see

Amid growing transfer speculation, Rodrygo did not play a single minute of Real Madrid’s first victory under Xabi Alonso. Question marks surround Rodrygo’s place at Real Madrid following a poor 2024–25 campaign.

There was more of a 'rock and roll' feel to Madrid's dramatic win over Pachuca, in which Alonso got to show off his managerial skills