Florentino Perez appears to have found a replacement for Xabi Alonso

Even though Real Madrid closed out 2025 with a trio of wins on all fronts, the mood at Santiago Bernabeu is still far from calm.

Behind the positive results lies growing skepticism from the club’s management, particularly concerning the future of coach Xabi Alonso.

According to multiple sources in Spain, Real Madrid’s performance under Alonso has not been convincing enough to satisfy President Florentino Perez. The Spanish coach is seen as lacking the firmness and influence required in the locker room, a crucial element for a club as ambitious and strong-willed as Real Madrid. If the team fails to meet expectations in the upcoming Spanish Super Cup, a coaching change could very well take place.

Florentino Perez is believed to have identified the core issue early on. For him, Real Madrid needs not only a tactically skilled coach but also an authoritative figure capable of managing star players and maintaining a winning identity. In the president’s mind, there is only one name that fully meets these criteria.

According to Defensa Central, Zinedine Zidane is the only person Perez trusts to lead Real Madrid out of the current potential crisis. If everything depended solely on Perez’s decision, Zidane would have already returned to Bernabeu to begin his third tenure as head coach.

Perez’s confidence in Zidane is no coincidence. The French legend possesses rare charisma, character, and aura, which earn him absolute respect from players. Many current Real Madrid stars, including Rodrygo and Vinicius Jr., have idolized Zidane since early in their careers when he was still in charge at the club.

Zidane also played a key role in the early development of these two Brazilian players. His return would not only stabilize the locker room but could also revive the peak performance of several key players.

However, the biggest obstacle lies with Zidane himself. The 52-year-old coach still harbors ambitions to manage the French national team. Didier Deschamps is expected to step down as Les Bleus’ head coach after the 2026 World Cup, opening the door for Zidane to take over this dream position.