Real Madrid and England star Jude Bellingham has launched a blistering, expletive-laden denial of reports suggesting he was involved in a player revolt that contributed to manager Xabi Alonso's sacking this week.
Bellingham's Explosive Social Media Retort
Taking to his own app to address the speculation head-on, Bellingham branded the stories "a load of s***" and called for accountability from those spreading what he termed damaging misinformation. "Until now I've let far too many of these slide, always hoping the truth will come to light in its own time," Bellingham wrote. "But honestly... What a load of s***."
He expressed sympathy for fans who believe such reports, urging caution: "Truly feel sorry for the people that hang onto the every word of these clowns and their 'sources'. Do not believe everything you read." The midfielder finished by stating these outlets needed to be held accountable "for spreading this kind of damaging misinformation for clicks and added controversy."
The Turbulent End to Alonso's Brief Reign
Alonso's departure from the Santiago Bernabéu was confirmed on Monday, described as 'by mutual agreement', after just a few months in charge. His exit came swiftly on the back of a 3-2 defeat to arch-rivals Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final on Sunday night.
The manager's tenure was reportedly rocky, with Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo suggesting in November that several key players were unhappy. Alongside Bellingham, the list allegedly included:
- Thibaut Courtois
- Vinicius Jnr
- Eduardo Camavinga
- Fede Valverde
The core issue was said to be tactical disagreements, particularly with Alonso's insistence on playing out from the back. Camavinga and Valverde were also reportedly frustrated with their lack of guaranteed starting roles.
Mbappe's Mixed Signals and Glowing Tribute
The reports of player unrest gained traction when world superstar Kylian Mbappe appeared to publicly defy Alonso after the Super Cup loss, leading the team's refusal to give Barcelona a guard of honour.
However, following the sacking announcement, Mbappe posted a warm tribute to Alonso on Instagram. Sharing a photo of an embrace, he wrote: "It’s been short but it was a pleasure to play for you and learn from you. Thank you for giving me the confidence since Day 1." He praised Alonso as a manager with "clear ideas" and wished him luck, a notable sentiment given Mbappe's spectacular form under him, scoring 29 goals and providing 5 assists in just 25 games this season.
Alonso, a former Liverpool and Real Madrid midfielder, failed to replicate the success or popularity of predecessors like Carlo Ancelotti and Zinedine Zidane. His former teammate, Alvaro Arbeloa, who was coaching the club's reserve side, has taken over as interim manager. The club currently sits four points behind Barcelona in the LaLiga standings.
