A real bombshell exploded in Real Madrid circles just hours after the hard-fought 1-0 victory over Osasuna. Although the three points allowed the Whites to remain at the top of the table, manager Xabi Alonso (who took over on an interim basis due to Carlo Ancelotti’s temporary absence) surprised everyone with some extremely forceful statements about three of his own players.

During the post-match press conference, the coach made no bones about it:
“Yes, we won, but there are certain players who today didn’t perform at the level required by the Real Madrid badge. I can’t ignore that.”
These words, spoken with absolute firmness, immediately caused a stir. The impact was even greater when Xabi Alonso mentioned the exact names of the players who, according to him, performed “well below what was acceptable . ”

According to the coach, the three players who were most disappointing were:
 Ferland Mendy – “slow, uninvolved and lacking clarity in the ball release”
 Joselu – “lacking mobility or ability to generate danger in the opponent’s area”
 Dani Ceballos – “lacking intensity and lacking presence in the construction of the game”

But the most surprising thing was what happened next. Xabi Alonso confirmed that none of them will be included in the squad for the next La Liga match, as a disciplinary measure and warning to the rest of the dressing room.
“No one here is guaranteed a starting spot. Anyone who doesn’t perform on the pitch doesn’t play. And that applies to everyone,” he declared.

These statements generated a mixture of astonishment and controversy among fans and experts. Some applauded Alonso’s courage, claiming that Real Madrid needs a firm hand to maintain the group’s competitiveness. Others, however, believed the message was excessively harsh and could cause tensions within the locker room.

According to sources close to the club, the manager’s decision was already communicated to the players involved in a private conversation in which he was reportedly “very direct.” Joselu, visibly annoyed, reportedly replied that he “simply needed more minutes to get into rhythm,” while Dani Ceballos preferred not to comment. Mendy, for his part, reportedly accepted the criticism with a certain pride, promising to respond “on the pitch.”

The rest of the squad would have taken the message as a clear warning . One player, when contacted by the press, confessed:
“The manager has made it clear that no one can relax. Anyone who lets up even a bit will be out.”

Meanwhile, fans are already debating possible replacements on social media . Fran García, Brahim Díaz, and Arda Güler are the names most frequently mentioned to fill the vacant positions. Some fans even believe that Xabi Alonso’s comments could have been a strategy to provoke an immediate reaction from the group ahead of the demanding upcoming schedule.

In any case, Real Madrid’s next match has become one of the most anticipated of the season, not because of the opponent, but because of the lineup Xabi Alonso will field . Will he remain steadfast and leave out the three players in question? Or will he end up backing down under pressure from his surroundings?

One thing is clear:
the victory over Osasuna hasn’t brought peace of mind… but rather an internal earthquake that shakes the foundations of the Real Madrid dressing room.