'Snake': Jude Bellingham Under Fire for Late Instagram Post After Xabi Alonso Exit

‎Jude Bellingham has been labelled a “snake” by sections of the Real Madrid fanbase after delaying his public response to Xabi Alonso’s exit from the club. The midfielder waited until a day after the former manager’s departure before sharing a short farewell message, a move that has drawn heavy criticism online.

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‎Jude Bellingham has been criticised by fans after waiting a day to react to Xabi Alonso’s Real Madrid departure, sparking backlash over his delayed words.

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‎Xabi Alonso stepped down as Real Madrid manager after only eight months in charge, following Sunday’s dramatic 3-2 defeat to Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final. His exit came midway through his first season, with Los Blancos sitting four points behind Barcelona in the LaLiga table.

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‎In the immediate aftermath, several Real Madrid players took to social media to pay tribute to Alonso. Kylian Mbappe was quick to respond, posting on Instagram:

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‎— “It’s been short but it was a pleasure to play for you and learn from you. Thank you for giving me the confidence since Day 1. I will remember you as a manager who had clear ideas and knows many things about football. Best of luck for your next chapter.” —

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‎Rodrygo, Thibaut Courtois, Antonio Rüdiger, and Dani Carvajal also shared farewell messages. However, fans quickly noticed that Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Jr had not posted anything, especially amid previous reports of dressing-room tensions involving Mbappe, Vinicius, and Bellingham during Alonso’s tenure.

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‎Bellingham eventually broke his silence a day later with a brief Instagram message, writing:

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‎— “Thank you, Mister. It was a pleasure, all the very best for the future!” —

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‎The timing and tone of the post failed to appease some supporters. One fan, @stilevenensnel, claimed:

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‎— “his PR team saw posts about him being one of the very few who didn’t say anything and decided to post.” —

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‎Another user, @Mohamed06200171, added:

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‎— “Bellingham should be the one leaving, not xabi.” —

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‎Others were even more cutting, with @CashCurt1 writing:

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‎— “He seen all the fans was turning on him and made a emergency Statement Snake in the grass.” —

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‎Meanwhile, @ZimRMFC summed up their feelings bluntly by posting:

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— “Snake Bellingham.” —

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‎Looking ahead, Real Madrid have turned to Alvaro Arbeloa, who has taken over as manager and will lead the team for the first time on Wednesday against Albacete in the Copa del Rey. Speaking to reporters, Arbeloa said:

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‎— “We have the whole season ahead of us. We’re in a great position in all three competitions… My only focus is ambition and the desire to win every title because that’s what this crest demands.” —