Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham has branded reports of his falling out Xabi Alonso “a load of s***” following the Spanish manager’s departure from the La Liga giants.
Alonso left Real “by mutual consent” on Monday, the day after his side were beaten 3-2 by bitter rivals Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final in Jeddah, having served just seven months of his three-year contract.
The decision was somewhat unexpected, given Los Blancos sit second in the Spanish top flight and just four points back from the summit, but it follows repeated rumours of a rift between Alonso and several members of his playing squad - rumours which intensified after Kylian Mbappe was seen leading his teammates in defying the manager and refusing to give Barca a guard of honour.
Mbappe later took to social media to thank Alonso for “giving me confidence”, adding that it was “a pleasure” to play for and learn from the Spaniard, but murmurings earlier in the season suggested several other stars were unhappy with their manager at the time including Vinicius Jr and Federico Valverde.
Bellingham, another player named in that supposed unsettled group, initially posted a message to Alonso on his Instagram account when the news broke that he and Real would be parting ways, saying: "Thank you, Mister. It was a pleasure, all the very best for the future."
But amid speculation that he fell out with Alonso, the England international - who scored the winner in the only other El Clasico this season - has hit back.
“Until now I’ve let far too many of these [reports] slide, always hoping the truth will come to light in its own time,” Bellingham posted on his app, JB5. “But honestly… What a load of s***.
“Truly feel sorry for the people that hang on to the every word of these clowns and their ‘sources’.
“Do not believe everything you read, every now and then, these lot need to be held accountable for spreading this kind of damaging misinformation for clicks and added controversy.”
In light of Alonso’s exit, his former Liverpool and Real team-mate Alvaro Arbeloa has stepped up from his coaching role with the club’s reserves to helm the first-team.
