The 1-1 draw between Real Madrid and Al Hilal in the Club World Cup opener not only frustrated Real Madrid supporters but also sparked an unexpected media storm. Surprisingly, it was FC Barcelona midfielder Raphinha who lit the first spark. Questioned by the Brazilian media after the meeting, the player didn’t hesitate to harshly criticize Real Madrid’s choices and their new coach, Xabi Alonso.

“Honestly, when you elect a wizard, we give him a magic wand. There, it seems like they hired a wizard but forgot the wand. Real without an identity is sad to see,” he said, smiling slyly in the corner, referring to Real’s supposed lack of creativity and audacity under Alonso.

These words spread across social media in a flash, sparking thousands of passionate comments and analyses. True supporters were divided: some acknowledged a lack of spark in the game, others denounced a wanton provocation from a historic rival.

But the most striking thing was Xabi Alonso’s response at a press conference. True to his sober yet sharp style, the Madrid coach responded in seven words that were enough to extinguish the controversy and restore public opinion:
“He speaks on the pitch, not anywhere else.”

A simple sentence, but one that struck a chord. The journalists present noticed Alonso’s slight smile, while social media ignited, praising the “class” and “lucidity” of the previous map in the media.

On the field, despite this initial draw, Alonso remains confident. He emphasized that the team is in transition, that automatisms are being built, and that this kind of consistency is essential to bonding a group. “We saw interesting things, even if everything wasn’t perfect. I prefer that to a false sense of security,” he added, curtailing the criticism.

The debate continues to splinter. Barça fans are retiring to watch their player sting the enemy forever. Real Madrid faithful are impatiently waiting for the rest of the tournament to see if their team will turn this criticism into fuel for their shine.