Xabi Alonso seeks meaning of ‘Madridismo’ on return to chaotic and toxic Real Madrid

Xabi Alonso, on the training ground this week, is an interventionist coach who takes on a laissez-faire culture at Real Madrid.Photograph: Pedro Castillo/Real Madrid/Getty ImagesOf course he has been taking part in training. Quite frankly, it would have been deeply and offensively off-brand for Xabi Alonso not to have joined in. Darting around in the roasting heat, physically moving players into his desired positions, pinging pinpoint passes in his classic Predator boots: it was Alonso in his pu