Real Madrid’s head coach, Xabi Alonso, has admitted that the only team he fears facing in the Champions League is Arsenal — and it’s all because of one man: Piero Hincapié. The Spanish tactician revealed that Arsenal have acquired a world-class player who could be the key to their European dominance this season.
Arsenal signed the Ecuadorian defender from Bayer Leverkusen on loan with an obligation to buy during the summer transfer deadline. Coincidentally, just months before that move, Alonso had left the German club to take charge of Real Madrid, leaving behind the player he had personally helped develop.
During his time at Bayer Leverkusen, Alonso coached Hincapié for three years, a period that saw the club lift the Bundesliga title in the 2023/24 season. The bond between the two remains strong, and Alonso didn’t hesitate to praise his former player’s growth since their time together.
In an interview shared by Ecuadorian outlet Extra, Alonso described Hincapié as a model professional with immense potential. “I have a lot of respect for him. It was a pleasure to coach him,” Alonso said, clearly proud of how far the young centre-back has come since their days in Germany.
The Madrid boss went on to analyze Hincapié’s evolution, highlighting his intelligence and versatility. “Piero is a modern defender, very adaptable and with great game awareness. He’s gained more confidence on the ball and improved his decision-making. Now you see him playing pinpoint diagonal passes and even making attacking runs from deep,” Alonso explained with admiration.
Hincapié made his Arsenal debut in their Champions League win against Athletic Club Bilbao back in September before suffering a groin injury that kept him sidelined for over a month. But earlier this week, he returned to action, starting in Arsenal’s 2–0 EFL Cup victory over Brighton & Hove Albion, showing glimpses of his quality once again.
So far, the Ecuadorian has only clocked 79 minutes across three appearances for the Gunners, but his impact hasn’t gone unnoticed. Alonso, however, believes it’s only a matter of time before his former protégé becomes one of the Premier League’s standout defenders.
“He’s a top-level player,” Alonso said. “To me, Piero isn’t just an emperor — he’s a warrior. His commitment to his craft and his relentless ambition make him a leader. He inspires those around him, and that’s exactly what makes Arsenal so dangerous.”
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