The first transfer after the departure of Xabi Alonso » Who will the new coach bring to Real Madrid!
Article by Daniel Scorpie – Published Monday, January 12, 2026 22:47 / Updated Monday, January 12, 2026 23:07
The departure of Xabi Alonso (44 years old) from his technical bench real madridafter the decision taken this evening by the president Florentino Perez, has already produced the first effect. The blanco club will bring back the former coach from the Carlo Ancelotti era and Zinedine Zidane, the new coach Alvaro Arbeloa urgently asking to work with Antonio Pintus.
One of the reasons why the game of Real Madrid under the command of Xabi Alonso was below the expectations of the fans at the “Santiago Bernabeu” and the claims of the club is the physical preparation made by the Spanish coach, this season the infirmeria blanca always has enough injured, especially in the defensive compartment.
Alvaro Arbeloa's first decision as coach of Real Madrid e the return of Antonio Pintus, the trainer who worked within the club, to the role played in the era of the three Champions Leagues won with Zinedine Zidane and then with Carlo Ancelotti.
“Xabi Alonso's style required a level of effort that was impossible for the players to manage, given their physical condition”
The coach from Castilla and Florentino Pérez have agreed that the Italian will take care of getting the players back fit after they have shown signs of fatigue in recent months.
“The Basque coach failed to implement his game ideas, as his style of football demanded a level of effort that was impossible for the players to manage, given their current physical condition,” the Spanish press reveal.
Xabi Alonso, coach of Real Madrid/ photo: Guliver/GettyImages
Real Madrid tried several times to bring Pintus back to the first team, but Xabi Alonso resisted. Ismael Camenforte, the fitness coach who came with the Spaniard from Leverkusen, has been responsible for the physical training of the Blancos players since the beginning of the season.
“It's just that his methods have constantly raised doubts within the clubto the point where Florentino Perez repeatedly asked Xabi Alonso to bring back Antonio Pintus. The Italian is under contract with Real Madrid and Alonso's predecessor, Carlo Ancelotti, worked with him successfully.
Pintus worked with Zinedine Zidane and Carlo Ancelotti
The coach disagreed and always defended his coaching staff, a decision that ultimately proved crucial to his dismissal.” explains the same source.
Although he did not work with the first team, Pintus continued to oversee all activity in the youth academy, and Arbeloa, who has worked with him in the past, considers him a top expert in his field.
Zinedine Zidane / PHOTO: imago
Antonio Pintus is one of the most well-known physical trainers, and this also results from his track record. The Italian played for teams such as Juventus, Chelsea, Inter and Real Madrid and was highly regarded. The trophies won by the players he physically trained are testimony:
Pintus has 5 Champions League (Real Madrid and Juventus), 4 Club World Cups (Real Madrid), 4 Serie A titles (Juventus and Inter), 3 La Liga titles (Real Madrid), 6 European Super Cups (Real Madrid, Juventus and Chelsea), UEFA Cup (Juventus), one Spanish Cup (Real Madrid), one Italian Cup (Juventus), two Italian Super Cups (Juventus), 3 Spanish Super Cups (Real Madrid), one French League Cup (Monaco) and two Intercontinental Cups (Juventus and Real Madrid).
