Alpha News

Xabi Alonso's Real Madrid Payoff: The Unknown Clause in His Contract

Published January 13, 2026, 13:26

Xabi Alonso has left Real Madrid despite signing a three-year contract in the summer. A clause in his contract allowed for the termination of the cooperation with limited compensation in case of dismissal before the end of the first season. Specifically, Real Madrid will pay Alonso compensation equivalent to his annual earnings, which ranged from 7 to 9 million euros, for the current season. This amount is considered relatively small for the club. The decision to release Alonso came as a surprise and provoked reactions from fans. However, the clause in the contract facilitated the process and reduced the financial cost for Real Madrid. It is important to note that Real Madrid had already spent a significant amount (12-15 million euros) to break Alonso's contract with Leverkusen and acquire him, making the recent payoff relatively small compared to the total cost.