Real Madrid has appointed fitness coach Antonio Pintus to a central role in the physical training of the first team after the club and Xabi Alonso parted ways by “mutual agreement” on March 15, 2024. Alonso’s departure comes just seven months after he took charge, with Alvaro Arbeloa, currently managing the reserve team, stepping in as the new head coach.
Pintus previously served as a physical trainer for Real Madrid under former coaches Carlo Ancelotti and Zinedine Zidane. However, when Alonso was appointed in May 2023, Pintus’s responsibilities diminished as Alonso brought in his own staff, including fitness coach Ismael Camenforte, who had worked alongside him at Bayer Leverkusen. Pintus was later designated as ‘performance manager’, despite ongoing speculation about his future with the club.
Throughout the 2023-2024 season, Pintus’s role shifted, and he was often seen in formal attire during matches, a stark contrast to his usual tracksuit. His absence from training sessions and away games indicated a significant reduction in his influence over the team’s physical preparations. Despite these changes, club president Florentino Perez maintained his confidence in Pintus, recognizing his importance in overcoming the team’s ongoing injury issues.
As the season progressed, Real Madrid struggled with injuries, prompting Perez to reconsider Pintus’s involvement. Following a particularly challenging December, where seven players were sidelined for a critical Champions League match against Manchester City, the club’s leadership began to emphasize the need for a stronger focus on fitness. In early January, Dr. Niko Mihic was given an expanded role in the medical department after being sidelined late in 2023 due to an injury crisis that caused internal tensions.
This strategic shift has been described as a “very presidential decision.” According to a training source who spoke with The Athletic, “Florentino really thinks that Pintus is the secret to winning the Champions League.” Pintus’s return as a physical trainer during Ancelotti’s second tenure in 2021 was also a result of Perez’s direct influence, underscoring his belief in Pintus’s capabilities.
The club’s leadership is clearly concerned about the players’ physical condition, and they aim to address the persistent injury challenges that have affected the team. Real Madrid hopes that Pintus’s re-integration into the everyday workings of the first team will help mitigate the injury problems that have plagued the squad.
Under Arbeloa’s direction, who has so far worked with a talented and diverse staff at Castilla, it will be intriguing to see how Pintus’s renewed focus on fitness will align with the team’s strategies moving forward. The club aims to restore its competitive edge in both domestic and international tournaments, particularly as they prepare for the Champions League in the coming months.
