Brahim Díaz’s silence stood out as Real Madrid players reacted en masse to the club’s shock decision to dismiss head coach Xabi Alonso, a move that caught supporters and insiders off guard late on Monday evening.
While most of the first-team squad took to social media to pay tribute to Alonso, Díaz was among a small group of players who did not publicly acknowledge the Spaniard’s departure.
His absence from the wave of messages drew particular attention, given the scale of the decision and the strong bond Alonso was widely believed to have built within the dressing room. Díaz is currently in Morocco with his national team for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, but his silence was still noted by observers.
Real Madrid confirmed Alonso’s dismissal following an emergency meeting at the club’s Valdebebas training complex, attended by president Florentino Pérez and senior executives. The meeting was convened just hours after the team returned to Madrid, bringing an abrupt end to Alonso’s tenure at a delicate point in the season.
The announcement came a day after Madrid’s 3-2 defeat to Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final. Although players had been given time off after the loss, news of the decision spread quickly, prompting an immediate response from many senior figures in the squad.
Kylian Mbappé led the tributes, describing Alonso as a coach with a clear vision and deep understanding of the game.
Rodrygo, Thibaut Courtois, Dani Carvajal, Eduardo Camavinga, David Alaba, and Federico Valverde also shared messages of appreciation, praising Alonso’s methods and the confidence he showed in his players. Arda Güler’s message was particularly emotional, highlighting the role Alonso’s trust played in his development.
According to Spanish outlet AS, Díaz was one of seven players who did not react publicly, alongside Trent Alexander-Arnold, Éder Militão, Ferland Mendy, Jude Bellingham, Vinícius Júnior, and Franco Mastantuono.
