5 Reasons Xabi Alonso Move To Bayern Will Hurt Real Madrid

monjola sotubo 13:11 - 29 August 2014

Xabi Alonso completes £5million move to German champions Bayern Munich

Real Madrid confirmed on Friday morning that they have reached an agreement with Bayern Munich for the transfer of midfielder Xabi Alonso.

Alonso has been a near ever-present in the starting XI since joining Madrid from Liverpool in 2009 and was a cornerstone of the side who won last season’s Champions League, despite being suspended for the final itself.

It was a surprising move and one that is likely to have a negative effect on Madrid’s season.

Here are five reasons why Alonso’s transfer to Bayern Munich will hurt Real Madrid.

Alonso was the most experienced outfield player in the Madrid squad prior to his departure, and also the most decorated. There are few situations he hasn’t encountered over the course of his highly successful career.

he told Marca.

With Alonso gone, the onus will be on the likes of Pepe and Sergio Ramos—both of whom are prone to bouts of emotion-led recklessness—to provide calm and experience when the going gets tough.

Alonso is a born leader. Concentrate on him for an entire match and you will notice that he is constantly in communication with his teammates. He directs operations from the base of midfield.

It was these communication skills that helped him form such an effective midfield partnership with in the second half of last season. The Croatian is not a naturally defensive player, but he and Alonso were superb during the latter stages of Madrid’s Champions League run.

Who will step into the breach now that Alonso has departed?

Carlo Ancelotti struggled to find the right balance in the early part of last season. Madrid looked a far better side once Alonso returned from a groin injury in November.

In Alonso, Ancelotti had a proven, top-quality defensive midfielder. Alongside Luka Modric and Angel Di Maria he formed part of a threesome that would eventually lead the club to Champions League glory.

Alonso appeared the perfect player to guide him through the experience. Both were of Basque heritage, both had started their careers at Real Sociedad and both were defensive midfielders.

Upon signing for Madrid, Illarramendi made it clear, as per Duncan McMath on ESPN FC, that he saw Alonso as a reference point:

With Alonso gone, who will now oversee Illarramendi’s development?

Alonso is a level-headed, honest yet respectful character who has always projected a good image for the club.

In the midst of the paranoia and back-stabbing that characterised the final year of Jose Mourinho’s reign, he refused to be drawn into the madness.

The arrival of the more sedate Carlo Ancelotti in place of the inflammatory Mourinho has improved Madrid’s image over the last year or so, but they could still have do.