Xabi Alonso Critiques LaLiga Game in Miami, Discusses Player Fitness
Real Madrid’s manager, Xabi Alonso, has supported player protests against the upcoming LaLiga match scheduled for Miami between Villarreal and Barcelona. He characterized the protests as “a positive development.” The match is set to take place on December 20 at Hard Rock Stadium, with tickets available for purchase next week.
The weekend kicked off with a LaLiga match between Real Oviedo and Espanyol, where players paused for the first 15 seconds in protest. The players’ union, AFE, highlighted their concerns regarding the league’s lack of transparency and dialogue surrounding the Miami game. Notably, this protest was not shown on the international broadcast; instead, viewers saw a general exterior shot of the stadium.
Alonso expressed his disapproval of the Miami event in a press conference, stating, “We believe it influences the competition. There isn’t consensus among all participating clubs. We haven’t been consulted.” He further emphasized the unilateral nature of the decision and insisted that if there were agreement among clubs, the game could proceed.
Later in the day, during the Sevilla vs. Mallorca match, the players’ protest was briefly visible after kickoff before the cameras shifted focus to the Sevilla bench.
In a statement, AFE indicated that the captains from all 20 LaLiga teams supported the protest at the start of the weekend’s matches, although the players from Barcelona and Villarreal were not asked to join in.
When asked if he would endorse further action from players, including a potential strike, Alonso refrained from providing a clear answer. “My response remains the same, and our position is unchanged,” he stated. “The necessary decisions will likely be made by others.”
Real Madrid is preparing to face Getafe on Sunday, currently holding a two-point advantage over rivals Barcelona, who will play Girona on Saturday. Alonso also addressed concerns surrounding Kylian Mbappé, who returned to Madrid early due to an ankle injury but reaffirmed that Mbappé’s condition is satisfactory: “His ankle is fine. He’s in the squad and could start.”
Additionally, when questioned about the potential exit of Endrick in January, Alonso said that it was “not on my mind.” He remarked on Jude Bellingham’s improved condition, stating, “Jude has been training and is better prepared after his shoulder surgery in July. We need the best version of Jude.n
