"Alonso is very intelligent," Sneijder told Winwin-allsports on 22/7. "I think he will do well at Real Madrid. He understands the club, the pressure, and has fresh ideas. I have confidence in him after what he did with Leverkusen."

The former Dutch midfielder also noted: "Great players need discipline and sacrifice. If they play for the team, not themselves, they can become unbeatable. But this depends on the manager."

Manager Xabi Alonso (in black) consoles Kylian Mbappe after Real Madrid lost 0-4 to PSG in the FIFA Club World Cup semi-final on 9/7/2025. Photo: Reuters

Manager Xabi Alonso (in black) consoles Kylian Mbappe after Real Madrid lost 0-4 to PSG in the FIFA Club World Cup semi-final on 9/7/2025. Photo: Reuters

Alonso is one of Europe's most promising managers. In the 2023-2024 season, the Spaniard led Leverkusen to a domestic double, going undefeated and ending Bayern Munich's dominance. This summer, he returned to Real Madrid, replacing Carlo Ancelotti.

Alonso had only about three weeks to work with the full squad before debuting at the FIFA Club World Cup. Real Madrid ended with a disappointing 0-4 loss to PSG in the semi-final on 9/7.

Real Madrid currently boasts four attacking stars: Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius, Jude Bellingham, and Rodrygo. Mbappe and Vinicius have been identified as potential issues, often neglecting defensive duties and disrupting the team's balance. Bellingham recently underwent shoulder surgery and faces a long-term absence, while Rodrygo's future remains uncertain.

In the summer of 2007, Sneijder joined Real Madrid from Ajax for a fee of around 30 million USD. The former Dutch star was expected to become the new playmaker in midfield, thanks to his intelligent play, technique, and powerful long shots. However, he only played two seasons, scoring 11 goals in 66 matches, winning one La Liga title and one Spanish Super Cup.

Sneijder played consistently, contributing significantly to Real Madrid's La Liga title win under manager Bernd Schuster in the 2007-2008 season. But his form dipped the following season, losing his starting spot, and he was sold to Inter Milan in 2009, paving the way for Real Madrid's "Galacticos 2.0" era with the arrival of Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka, Karim Benzema, and Xabi Alonso himself.

"It was a combination of factors: personal life, injuries, change of manager, and the club going in a different direction. I had some great moments, but it wasn't the right time to stay long-term," Sneijder said about his time at the Bernabeu.

Sneijder expresses disappointment as the Netherlands loses 0-1 to Spain in the 2010 World Cup final. Photo: AP

Sneijder expresses disappointment as the Netherlands loses 0-1 to Spain in the 2010 World Cup final. Photo: AP

Sneijder still feels some disappointment about finishing fourth with 14.48% of the vote in the 2010 Ballon d'Or. Ahead of him were Xavi (16.48%), Andres Iniesta (17.36%), and Lionel Messi (22.65%).

In the 2009-2010 season, Sneijder was instrumental in Inter Milan's treble-winning campaign, securing the Champions League, Serie A, and Coppa Italia. He also helped the Netherlands reach the 2010 World Cup final, where they lost 0-1 to Spain. During the same period, Messi, Iniesta, and Xavi only won La Liga with Barcelona and lost 2-3 on aggregate to Sneijder's Inter in the Champions League semi-final.

"Honestly, I still feel sad," the 41-year-old expressed. "I had an incredible year, winning the Champions League, the domestic double, and reaching the World Cup final. I felt like I had done it all. But Messi won the award, and he is an exceptional player. However, the fact that people still talk to me about 2010 means they saw what I achieved, and that's what matters."

Hong Duy (Marca)