Mehdi Benatia questions football’s power balance and recalls Cristiano Ronaldo’s Juventus habits

Former Olympique de Marseille sporting director Mehdi Benatia has criticised the growing influence of players in modern football, using Xabi Alonso’s dismissal by Real Madrid last season as an example.

Benatia, who played alongside Alonso at Bayern Munich, said the Spanish coach had been treated unfairly after being removed from his post before taking charge of Chelsea. Speaking on Canal+, in comments reported by Foot Mercato, the former Morocco international said clubs were increasingly choosing to dismiss managers rather than challenge influential players.

“Players have too much power now. It is easier to change a manager than to change 15 players,” Benatia said.

“When I see an institution as big as Real Madrid getting rid of Xabi Alonso, I remember that I had the chance to play with him. Not many teams have beaten Bayern Munich in the way he did with Bayer Leverkusen.

“It is unbelievable. He was dismissed by Real Madrid in a very humiliating way, and nobody cared. He ended up at Chelsea.”

Benatia also described how Alonso’s attempt to impose his standards quickly met resistance within the dressing room.

“Xabi tried to introduce some principles, saying: ‘I won everything as a player, so this is what you have to do.’ It lasted only three months. The dressing room turned against him and he was sacked,” he added.

Ronaldo’s demanding routine

Benatia also discussed the professionalism of Cristiano Ronaldo, who was his team-mate at Juventus, and said the five-time Ballon d’Or winner stood apart from other players of his generation.

“He was completely different from the rest of the players in his age group, even after training had finished,” Benatia said.

“He would make us swim for 40 minutes and then spend 30 minutes in an ice bath, which really was freezing. I used to say to him: ‘How do you do that, man? Your bath is so cold. I only put my legs in it.’

“Some players did not pay much attention to work in the gym, but as soon as Cristiano arrived, you would see everyone there.”

Benatia also recalled that Ronaldo was initially uncomfortable with Juventus’ pre-match training camps, a routine he had not experienced before arriving in Turin.

“I was at Juventus in 2018 when Cristiano joined. He did not really like the camps before matches because he was not used to them. Before every home game, we went into camp the day before,” he said.

“Cristiano said to me: ‘Bena, is there a way to speak a little with the Italians and the manager?’ I replied: ‘Yes, of course, we will try, but this is part of the system here.’

“Then I told Giorgio Chiellini: ‘We have a team-mate, Cristiano, who does not really like the pre-match camps.’”

Benatia said they subsequently raised the matter with the manager, explaining that “three or four players, most of them regular starters”, would prefer to stay at home if possible.

“The manager replied: ‘Whoever wants to go to camp can go, and whoever wants to sleep at home can do so,’” Benatia said.