Real Madrid remove key backroom figure from training duties | OneFootball

According to a report from SPORT, Real Madrid have made a key change in their backroom setup ahead of the 2025/26 season.

Antonio Pintus, long regarded as one of the best physical trainers in world football, will no longer serve directly with the first team.

Instead, the club has created a new position for him, performance manager, marking a clear shift in their internal structure.

This change is part of a new approach by the club following the appointment of Xabi Alonso as head coach.

With a different managerial philosophy now in place, Real Madrid appear to be redefining roles across departments, and Pintus is among the first to be repositioned.

From the training pitch to the office

Since returning to Real Madrid in 2021, Pintus had operated independently of any coaching staff, working closely with Carlo Ancelotti but never forming part of his inner circle.

Antonio Pintus no longer work closely with the players. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

He oversaw all aspects of fitness and physical preparation, training sessions, load management, recovery programmes, and injury prevention.

His methods were often praised for keeping key players in top shape during long, demanding seasons.

However, the new role moves him away from daily pitch duties. As performance manager, Pintus will now focus on broader evaluations, assessing not only the physical output of players but also monitoring the effectiveness of coaching staff and support systems.

His work will involve data analysis, structural planning, and performance optimisation across all levels of the club.

In simpler terms, Pintus is now expected to bring a more practical, office-based insight into the overall performance of Real Madrid.

While no longer visible on the training pitch, Pintus’s new position keeps him influential in shaping how Real Madrid prepares, performs, and prevents setbacks, a shift that could prove crucial as the club enters a new era under Alonso.