Players fume as new boss ends party culture under Ancelotti era
The party is officially over at Real Madrid. Under former manager Carlo Ancelotti, some players reportedly jetted off to Ibiza after matches and occasionally skipped training sessions with little consequence. But since taking charge, Xabi Alonso has slammed the brakes on that carefree culture — and not everyone is happy.
Sources inside the club say Alonso has introduced a zero-tolerance policy on lateness, skipped sessions, and off-field excesses, insisting that “discipline and focus must match Real Madrid’s badge.”
The change hasn’t gone down well with everyone. Several players’ entourages are reportedly upset, accusing the former midfield maestro of “interfering too much” in players’ personal lives.
“Some think he’s gone too far. The freedom they had under Ancelotti is gone,” a source close to the dressing room told Spanish media. “Alonso wants absolute professionalism — no excuses, no Ibiza trips.”
Since stepping in, Alonso has been keen on reshaping the team’s culture around commitment, intensity, and unity, believing it’s the key to sustaining Madrid’s dominance both in Spain and Europe.
While some senior players have quietly embraced the new standard, others are said to be struggling to adapt to the stricter regime that now includes mandatory recovery sessions and curfews before match days.
Club insiders, however, insist that President Florentino Pérez fully supports Alonso’s tough-love approach, seeing it as necessary to maintain the club’s elite status.
As one Madrid insider put it: “Under Ancelotti, players danced. Under Xabi Alonso, they march.”
