Real Madrid megastar duo under scrutiny as concerns emerge at club over ‘ego problems’ | OneFootball

Real Madrid were on the receiving end of a 4-0 thrashing at the hands of PSG in the FIFA Club World Cup semi-final on Wednesday night.

The defeat showed the volume of work that Xabi Alonso has to do, having taken over the reins of the team from Carlo Ancelotti.

Concerns at Real Madrid

Following the defeat, MARCA now reports that Real Madrid’s leadership has made a firm decision: end the internal ego battles that continue to disrupt the team’s performance.

In the coming days, club officials will meet with certain players to understand clearly what they want, what they are looking for, and how far their commitment truly goes.

The message is clear – either the team works together, or changes will be made. The summer is long, and the transfer window remains open until early September.

The recent match against PSG highlighted persistent problems. Once again, signs emerged of individualism overruling team spirit. Gestures, complaints, and negative body language exposed a lack of collective effort – not from everyone, but from many.

Vinicius under the microscope

One of the biggest concerns is Vinicius Jr. The Brazilian is far from the player he once was. He is not the only issue, but his presence draws attention. As such, the club want to know what is going through his mind.

Under the scanner. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

Now, it is up to Vinicius to be honest and explain exactly what is going on. Past discussions and the nearing contract renewal are no longer the focus.

His body language and performance are not aligning with his day-to-day training efforts. The club simply want clarity on his intentions. At this point, no scenario is ruled out.

Worries about Mbappe as well

Kylian Mbappe is also under scrutiny. Alonso insists that all eleven players must contribute defensively, chase the ball, and fight for the team – none of which was evident against PSG.

Mbappe has had a disappointing Club World Cup and against his former club, his poor physical condition was clear. However, what raised concern was his lack of effort to defend.

Vinicius and Mbappe are meant to be the team’s attacking leaders, but if each plays independently, the entire structure collapses.

The issue is not technical compatibility, but a lack of collective effort. That was painfully evident against Luis Enrique’s PSG side.

Real Madrid have expressed full support for Alonso and his decision-making. The coach has identified the issue and knows it must be addressed. He is not naming individuals, including Vinicius, but instead is calling out poor attitudes and measures will be taken to resolve it.