What has not been told about the break-up between Ferrero and Alcaraz

Raquel Bermúdez Rodríguez | 27 Dec 2025 | 22.19

What has not been told about the breakup between Ferrero and Alcaraz. Photo: Getty

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Even after Juan Carlos Ferrero himself spoke about the issue, there are hundreds of rumors surrounding the major sports breakup of the year. Whether it's disagreements over finances, discussions about academies, or training locations... But what is the truth behind the split between Ferrero and Carlos Alcaraz?

From Punto de Break, José Morón tries to shed some light on the subject to better understand the context of what really happened for Juan Carlos Ferrero and Carlos Alcaraz's team not to reach an agreement to continue next season.

"Juan Carlos Ferrero, when everything happened, was devastated because he did not expect it. It was completely unexpected, and he felt very bad about it. We knew for some time that the relationship between Juan Carlos Ferrero and Carlos Alcaraz's circle was not the best. Although the breakup happened overnight, it had been brewing for some time," he explained on YouTube.

When things start to go sour for Juan Carlos Ferrero and Carlos Alcaraz

"It all began to sour in the year 2023. In 2022, when Alcaraz won the US Open and became the youngest number one in history, everything was wonderful, but in 2023, the first tensions emerged within Carlos's circle with Juan Carlos Ferrero. During the South American tour, when Alcaraz went to Rio de Janeiro and Buenos Aires, he traveled with Martínez Cascales, not with Juan Carlos, and this was something that Carlos's circle did not fully comprehend.

They couldn't understand how it was possible for a number one like Alcaraz, who wanted to make history, to have his head coach at home while someone like Cascales had to travel, someone whom Ferrero could rely on. This was not well-received by Carlos Alcaraz's circle. At different times in 2023, there were things that began to distance the group from Juan Carlos."

Ferrero's Interviews About Alcaraz: A Turning Point

"Things started to go drastically downhill when Juan Carlos Ferrero, in late 2023, after Carlos Alcaraz lost the ATP Finals, gave certain interviews where he mentioned that to be a professional, one must act like one throughout the year. From Ferrero's perspective, Carlos could have given a bit more to end the season on a better note," words that did not sit well with Carlos Alcaraz's circle when mentioned publicly.

"Juan Carlos is a very strict person; he understands work in a way that starts to clash with Carlos Alcaraz, who feels caught between a rock and a hard place. Carlos's vision is shared by his circle. The circle believes Carlos should have a bit more freedom from all the strictness Ferrero wanted."

Alcaraz Prevents Ferrero from Leaving in 2024

"In 2024, the year was very good, but there was a period where Alcaraz lost his way a bit towards the end of the season. Carlos showed signs of mental weakness after losing in the US Open's second round while Ferrero's team encouraged him to continue. Carlos's circle believed all of this was due to how Ferrero managed his career. Tensions peaked towards the end of 2024.

What has happened now in 2025 was going to occur last year. During last year's negotiations, Alcaraz's circle was not happy with what had transpired. Ferrero understands tennis one way, and Carlos wanted to go in a different direction. Last year, the circle already wanted to do what happened this year: remove Ferrero and bring in another coach. They wanted Andy Murray.

Carlos Alcaraz prevented Juan Carlos from leaving in 2024. The relationship between Alcaraz and Ferrero has always been fabulous, incredibly good, with no issues. Although Alcaraz was not 100% comfortable with Ferrero's demands, he knew having Ferrero was a significant asset. In 2025, Samu López joined as a second coach to help smooth the situation with Juan Carlos, among other things."

The Addition of Samu López and Friction with Ferrero

"The family was delighted with Samu, who was more lenient than Ferrero, allowing much more freedom. Ferrero decided to undergo knee surgery at the end of 2024, so he could not travel to Australia in 2025. This did not sit well within Carlos Alcaraz's circle, adding to the already tense situation."

Months later, at the Miami tournament, where Alcaraz lost to David Goffin in his debut. "It was a complicated situation, and he went on vacation to escape it all. When Alcaraz requested rest, Ferrero did not support it. Carlos began to shine after the break, but everything fell apart in May when the Netflix documentary was released."

"His understanding of work and sacrifice is different from ours. It makes me doubt if he can become the greatest in history. Winning two Grand Slams in 2024 is great, but maintaining these results is the real challenge," Juan Carlos Ferrero said in the famous documentary, further widening the gap between the coach and the circle.

A few months later, Juan Carlos did not travel to Cincinnati, and he was watching the match between Elche and Betis at the same time as the final against Sinner: "That image did not sit well with the circle at all.” Despite the tension, Ferrero's Academy understood that Alcaraz should visit Villena less often and train more in Murcia.

The Ending Between Juan Carlos Ferrero and Carlos Alcaraz

Weeks after Cincinnati, Ferrero went to Murcia to prepare for the indoor season with the team: "Juan Carlos Ferrero was surprised to see a fully adapted indoor court for Carlos in Murcia, providing him with everything he needed."

And after the ATP Finals and the end of the season, negotiations began for the upcoming year: "It took a long time to send the contract. From Carlos Alcaraz's circle, they were preparing everything, knowing they didn't want to go down the same path as in 2025. They drafted a contract containing terms Ferrero did not agree with, but there was one particular aspect that surprised him immensely.

Just as Carlos Alcaraz has his own way of doing things, Ferrero also has his way, which means certain weeks of the year, he wants to be with his family, live at his academy... The circle was tired of Ferrero's methods. Alcaraz did not make the decision. It was his circle. They offered a contract to Juan Carlos that was essentially an invitation to leave. Ferrero was already preparing for the preseason, so it caught him completely off guard."

No Bad Blood Between Ferrero (and His Academy) and Alcaraz

Contrary to the many rumors of a supposed strained relationship between Alcaraz and Ferrero, the truth is that there are no issues between Carlos and Juanki: "The fact is that Alcaraz and Ferrero get along very well. A significant part of Alcaraz's current team is from Ferrero's Academy. Samu would not have accepted the coaching position with Carlos if there were any conflicts with the academy. Samu is a partner at Juan Carlos Ferrero's academy, and the relationship is excellent. There is no bad blood. Juan Carlos Ferrero's academy will always support Alcaraz, and the doors will always be open." And the Academy demonstrated this by posting a message of support on its social media, confirming that it continues to be part of the team, albeit now without Juan Carlos.