Insiders within Real Madrid’s camp have reportedly suggested that Xabi Alonso harbors ambitions of emulating Pep Guardiola, amid speculations of a discord between the manager and his players.

The tension within the team seemed to reach a breaking point during their recent 2-1 triumph in El Clasico against Barcelona, notably between Vinicius Junior and Alonso.

The Brazilian star expressed his frustration when Alonso, previously at the helm of Bayer Leverkusen, decided to substitute him with nearly 20 minutes remaining in the match. Vinicius’s displeasure was evident as he voiced his discontent while making his way to the sideline.

According to The Athletic, Vinicius is not alone in his skepticism. It appears several of Madrid’s high-profile players are also questioning Alonso’s strategies and leadership.

Having been used to the more relaxed approach of former manager Carlo Ancelotti, the team is reportedly finding it challenging to adapt to Alonso’s more stringent and authoritative style.

Reports of a rift in the Real Madrid dressing room between Xabi Alonso and his players have today emerged

Tensions in the camp boiled over during El Clasico on Sunday, particularly between Vinicius Junior and his boss

The Brazilian was left perplexed after being substituted with some 20 minutes of the clash to go

When the Spaniard took over at the Bernabeu ahead of the Club World Cup, he found a dressing room with ‘many bad habits’, the publication reports.

Alonso called a meeting early in his tenure in which he laid down a new set of rules. He stressed the importance of punctuality, intensity and dedication in training while warning his squad that no one was guaranteed a starting place. 

However such changes, coupled with Alonso’s playing style, are thought to have left some Madrid stars frustrated. 

‘Some of them have won so much without doing these things that when these have been imposed on them, they have complained,’ a source close to the players reportedly said. 

‘It’s no secret, some cases have been public. It’s normal, especially with those who were untouchable.’ 

Alonso has too had to take measures in order to stop leaks from the dressing room. Under Ancelotti last season, it was far from uncommon to see Madrid team news reported in newspapers hours ahead of kick-off. 

This season that’s changed, in part due to the club announcing their side on social media two hours ahead of fixtures, but also because Madrid’s new boss has restricted the access of players’ family and friends around the training ground. 

Entourages had previously been free to roam the grounds of Real Madrid Sports City. 

Players have reportedly grown frustrated with Alonso’s authoritarian regime at the training ground

The former Bayer Leverkusen boss has imposed strict new methods far different from those of former manager Carlo Ancelotti

Such methods are nevertheless also understood to have frustrated sections of Madrid’s squad. 

‘He thinks he’s Pep Guardiola, but for now he’s just Xabi,’ an individual close to a player told The Athletic. 

Yet despite such rumours of a burgeoning rift, Alonso has masterminded a positive start to his first season in charge of arguably the world’s biggest club. 

Madrid sit top of LaLiga and fifth in the Champions League group after winning all three of their European fixtures. 

And speaking after his latest victory on Sunday, Alonso played down speculation surrounding his relationship with some quarters of the Los Blancos squad. 

‘There are different personalities in any dressing room,’ he admitted. ‘Right now we will enjoy the win then we’ll have a conversation, for sure.’

Los Blancos however sit top of LaLiga and unbeaten in their Champions League campaign

Reacting to Vinicius’s outburst, the 43-year-old added: ‘The only thing Vinicius was missing was a goal. It’s true that he came off the pitch when he was feeling best and I could have waited a bit to replace him, but I understood that we needed fresh players to maintain control. Vinicius wanted to stay on because he was feeling good. 

‘Franco (Mastantuono) wanted to carry on playing too. He said to me, “Are you taking me off?” And I said, “Yes.” Something similar happened with Vini. He wasn’t very happy, but neither was Franco. It happens to everyone, but I’m very happy with Vinicius’s performance. The schedule is demanding and we have to keep going.’ 

Madrid are back in domestic action on Saturday against Valencia at the Bernabeu. 

They then face a trip to Liverpool in a fixture which will see Trent Alexander-Arnold make his highly-anticipated return to Anfield.