Alonso, a former Real Madrid midfielder, takes over the team after leaving Bayer Leverkusen. He will lead the club at the upcoming Club World Cup next month.

In his first speech, Alonso expressed his gratitude and enthusiasm. He said, "I'm very happy to be here, in what I feel is my home. The bond with Real Madrid has never ceased to exist, and since I arrived at the training ground this morning, that feeling has been reborn."

Alonso also acknowledged the legacy of his predecessor, Carlo Ancelotti, and expressed his commitment to building on his successor's work. He said, "I feel like this is the beginning of a new era. I hope to live up to expectations and take the club to all the places we all believe we can."

Alonso emphasized the importance of unity between the team and the fans, stating, "We're entering a period in which I feel the club and the fans are united. We have a great team, fantastic players, and tremendous potential. That gives me reason to come here with great energy and enthusiasm."

He also expressed his desire to make the fans proud and to create a sense of joy and community around the team. He said, "We want to make the fans proud, to convey emotions and joy. We want people to come to the stadium to enjoy themselves. I want them to see us on TV and say, 'This is my Real Madrid.' If we can ignite that, we'll have an unstoppable force."

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez welcomed Alonso, but also warned that he expects the team to succeed and bring home silverware.

Perez said, "Real Madrid represents the culture of hard work, sacrifice, humility, respect, and constant improvement. Today marks the beginning of a new era, and we're proud to have you back, Xabi Alonso."

Perez also acknowledged Alonso's achievements and praised his commitment to the club's values. He said, "You know very well the demands of this club. Welcome home."