Recently, an event in a Spanish football village has attracted the attention of both media and fans. Xabi Alonso, a famous former Real Madrid player and current manager of Bayer Leverkusen, asked Real Madrid players not to contact or play with Barcelona players in the run-up to the 2025 Nations League. This move by Alonso quickly generated mixed reactions, especially when the Spanish team’s head coach, Luis de la Fuerente, was once again leaked.
Xabi Alonso, with a long-standing attachment to Real Madrid, is known for his strong views on confrontations between the big clubs in Spain. His request for Real Madrid players to avoid contact with Barcelona players during this meeting is said to be a way of showing protection for his students, especially given the always tense relationship between the two teams.
However, this request from Alonso has met with a strong reaction from Luis de la Fuente. The head coach of the Spanish national team stated that players should focus on the common goal of achieving success for the team, rather than letting personal or inter-club conflicts affect team solidarity. Luis de la Fuente emphasized that on the national team, players must know how to work together for the benefit of the team, despite personal relationships or competition between clubs.
This incident has sparked much debate about the role of coaches in coordinating relationships between opposing players. Some believe Xabi Alonso made a point of it, while others support him because he wants to protect Real Madrid players from unnecessary tension.
However, throughout his illustrious career, Xabi Alonso clearly understood that in football, conflicts between clubs can sometimes affect the spirit of players. However, how to resolve this problem remains a major question, especially in the national team environment, where solidarity and cooperation among players are the most important factors.
Luis de la Fuente, despite protesting Alonso’s request, skillfully reminded the crowd that each player’s primary objective when wearing the team’s shirt is dedicated to the common glory, beyond personal differences or conflicts between clubs. In football, sometimes the most important thing is to focus on common goals and not let external factors distract from your focus.
The story between Xabi Alonso and Luis de La Fuente is a typical example that shows the stress and difference in outlook between those who have a great influence on football, but it also reflects a larger problem in the relationship between players from big teams in the same country.
