Xabi Alonso: Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr Slammed for Orchestrating Real Madrid Coach's Sacking

Kylian Mbappe is facing criticism after footage emerged showing him seemingly defying manager Xabi Alonso's instructions following Real Madrid's Spanish Super Cup final defeat to Barcelona.

The incident has been highlighted as a potential sign of the manager's waning authority before his dismissal.

Alonso was sacked on Monday evening, just a day after the 3-2 loss to Barça in Saudi Arabia, with former Liverpool teammate Alvaro Arbeloa named as his replacement.

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As Barcelona prepared to collect their winners' medals and trophy, Mbappe appeared to instruct his teammates not to form a guard of honour for their victorious rivals. This came after Barcelona's players had previously formed one for Madrid as they went to receive their runners-up medals.

A video circulating on social media shows Alonso urging his players to reciprocate the gesture. However, Mbappe is seen reacting with frustration, throwing his hands in the air before walking away. Alonso then appears to relent, heading in the same direction as his star forward.

Some observers suggest this moment encapsulated the challenges Alonso faced during his tenure, particularly regarding player authority. Reports had previously surfaced of friction with key players, including Vinicius Jr, who allegedly informed club president Florentino Perez he would not renew his contract if the manager remained.

Commenting on the clip, Spanish football journalist Guillem Balague noted: "After this, Xabi must have thought 'Nope, it won't happen here'."

Further footage showed the French captain discouraging his teammates from applauding the champions on three separate occasions. The Real Madrid squad subsequently left the ceremony, choosing not to watch their arch-rivals lift the trophy.

Despite the on-pitch tension, Mbappe posted a supportive message for Alonso following his departure. "It’s been short but it was a pleasure to play for you and learn from you," the striker wrote. "Thank you for giving me the confidence since Day 1. I will remember you as a manager who had clear ideas and knows many things about football. Best of luck for your next chapter."