Thibaut Courtois insists Real Madrid players did not conspire against Xabi Alonso, highlighting a strong performance in Champions League win vs Man City

Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has dismissed allegations that his teammates conspired to have Xabi Alonso dismissed from the Santiago Bernabeu.

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Speaking after Real Madrid’s 3-0 home victory against Manchester City in the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 first leg, Courtois emphasized that the team performed well and any claims of unrest were unfounded.

“No player set up Xabi Alonso. I believe we performed well… I think the initial months with Xabi were VERY POSITIVE, and then we encountered a slump. This is part of football,” he stated.

Alonso, who joined Real Madrid last summer after a successful spell with Bayer Leverkusen, concluded his tenure with 24 wins in 34 matches and a 70.59% win rate, surpassing his record at Leverkusen.

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Meanwhile, midfielder Federico Valverde scored his first career hat-trick, helping Los Blancos make strong progress toward the Champions League quarter-finals. The second leg is scheduled at the Etihad on Tuesday.