Xabi Alonso’s Real Madrid sacking: The full inside story, from Perez’s power to Vinicius Jr’s outburst

“It was a bolt from the blue. Xabi Alonso’s position as Real Madrid head coach had been in danger for some time, but the brutal manner of his sacking on Monday evening still shocked. Almost nobody knew it was coming. Players and staff were not told to expect the club’s announcement — nor were the communications team. One figure involved every day at Madrid’s training ground found out when reading the news on his phone in the supermarket. Alonso’s time at the Bernabeu has been incredibly short.