After the viral controversy over the guard of honor to Barcelona, Kylian Mbappé delivered a farewell message to former Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso.
Kylian Mbappé has been portrayed by some as one of the figures linked to Xabi Alonso’s dismissal as Real Madrid head coach on Monday, particularly following the confrontation surrounding a proposed guard of honor for Barcelona. As speculation about tension between the player and coach grew, Mbappé shared a farewell message addressed to Alonso.
Real Madrid confirmed Alonso’s departure in an official statement on Monday, announcing the end of his tenure as head coach following Sunday’s defeat to FC Barcelona in the 2026 Spanish Super Cup final. Álvaro Arbeloa has been appointed on an interim basis as the club searches for a permanent replacement for a coach whose spell at the club will not be forgotten by Mbappé.
After the announcement, the Frenchman took over to his Instagram account to publish a story with a message to Xabi Alonso: “It’s been short but it was a pleasure to play for you & learn from you. Thank you for giving me the confidence since Day 1. I will remember you as a manager who had clear ideas and knows many things about football. Best of luck for you next chapter.“
Joseph Duchene a sports broadcaster, journalist and event host with over 15-years-experience in the industry. My career to date has seen me cover multiple World Cups, Olympic Games.
