With competition from Brahim Díaz and Franco Mastantuono, Rodrygo will have to continue proving his worth to Alonso if he wants to regain his starting job. The longer the Brazil international sits on the bench, though, the closer he could come to a potential exit.

Arsenal remain interested in securing a move for Rodrygo and could approach for his signature now that Eberechi Eze appears to be edging closer to a transfer to Tottenham.

In response, club president Florentino Perez hired Alonso and sanctioned around €180million (£155m; $210.5m) to be spent on new players, including defenders Dean Huijsen, Alvaro Carreras and Trent Alexander-Arnold, along with exciting young Argentine playmaker Franco Mastantuono.

Real Madrid is starting a new stage and, as Xabi Alonso promised in his presentation, when he expressed his desire to "ignite" the fans, the first team

Real Madrid will face Osasuna on August 19, the final La Liga game in round 1 of the 2025-26 season. Xabi Alonso will get his debut season underway at the Santi

Alonso made it clear that he counts on all his players and that the key to the team's success lies in the total commitment of each one. "I count on everyone we have. We need everyone to be at one hundred percent. Right now, I count on everyone", stated the coach.

One of the untouchable players that Xabi Alonso has pointed out for his gala starting eleven is "people have to see that you are a real defender". Because

One day before its 2025-26 La Liga campaign begins in earnest, Real Madrid is bracing for a long season spread across four competitions, and manager Xabi Alonso knows that squad rotation will become paramount in ensuring squad fitness down the line.

Alonso has made it clear that he counts on all his players and that the key to the team's success lies in the total involvement of each one. "I count on all those who are here. We need everyone to be at 100%. Right now, I count on everyone", stated the coach.