Jude Bellingham insists Real Madrid dressing room unrest rumours are 'fabricated', lauds 'electric' Vinicius Junior after reported Xabi Alonso row

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There is no discord in Real Madrid's dressing room, according to Jude Bellingham. The midfielder asserted that the club's players are still on board with manager Xabi Alonso, who has been under intense scrutiny after a mixed start to his tenure in the Spanish capital. Real Madrid face Atletico Madrid in the Supercopa de Espana semi-final on Thursday, live on TNT Sports and discovery+.

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Jude Bellingham said Real Madrid's players are "behind" Xabi Alonso and dismissed rumours of dressing room unrest as "fabricated".

Los Blancos face city rivals Atletico Madrid in the Supercopa de Espana semi-final on Thursday night - live on TNT Sports and discovery+.

Silverware in Saudi Arabia could alleviate some of the pressure on Alonso, whose side are four points behind leaders Barcelona in La Liga.

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Real Madrid's form has improved of late but Alonso was under scrutiny before Christmas amid a run of two wins in eight games and a reported fall-out with Vinicius Junior.

"A lot of the problems you might hear about in tough moments are fabricated or exaggerated," Bellingham said in a press conference at King Abdullah Sports City. "We know what really happens inside the dressing room. We're behind the coach.

"I see Vinicius every day, he's just as positive as ever. He's no bad influence on the team and what we're trying to do. I have a great relationship with Vini and if I felt he was hurting us as a team, I'd tell him, but I don't think there is at all.

"As for the manager, we're all 100% behind him.

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"From my perspective, in the dressing room, we're all behind the coach. We've all got to be one in moments like this.

"Looking at it from a different perspective, in January we're heading into a [Supercopa] semi-final, we're second in the league, four points off the top, and in the top eight in the Champions League.

"It's not a disaster by any means. At Real Madrid everything gets over-exaggerated a bit in the bad moments, but that's why we love it.

"What happens tomorrow will hopefully be a win for us, but if not those decisions [on Alonso] are way above my head."

Bellingham reiterated his support for Vinicius, who has not scored in his last 15 appearances for the club - last finding the net when he notched a brace against Villarreal in October.

"Vini is under a huge amount of pressure as a player and as a person," he said. "Sometimes the stuff he does on the pitch is through pure emotion. You have to think it's a human being doing those things, and that can add to the pressure of a block of form in front of goal.

"I see an electric player who can create something out of nothing. The goals don't tell the full story. We all know when he's at his best we're a better team and he's a frightening player."

Alonso, asked about Vinicius in his press conference, said: "There's a lot of season left, a lot of important games.

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"Vini will be important. Tomorrow we need him at his best, connected to the team. When he enjoys himself on the pitch, he opens teams up."

Alonso also gave a fitness update on Kylian Mbappe, who was omitted from the travelling squad to Saudi Arabia as he continues to recover from a knee injury.

"Depending on the moment, you take decisions," Alonso said. "We're here, we want to have [Mbappe] back as soon as possible. We've pushed but this game has come too soon."

Either Real or Atletico will face Barcelona in the Supercopa final, after Hansi Flick's side demolished Athletic Club 5-0 in Wednesday's semi-final.

How to watch the semi-finals and final of the 2026 Supercopa de Espana

The 2026 Supercopa de Espana will be live on TNT Sports and discovery+.

Coverage of the semi-final between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid will get underway at 18:45 on Thursday, January 8 on TNT Sports 1 ahead of a 19:00 kick-off.

Sunday’s final will get underway at 19:00 on TNT Sports 1.

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