Alvaro Arbeloa Expresses Support for Jose Mourinho’s Return to Real Madrid
Alvaro Arbeloa, the current manager of Real Madrid, has expressed his enthusiasm about having Jose Mourinho back at the helm, labeling him as his “number one” choice for leadership. Arbeloa firmly rejected claims of chaos within the team’s dressing room amid a series of high-profile incidents affecting the club.
Recent Turmoil Surrounds the Club
Real Madrid has recently been embroiled in several controversies, including a training ground altercation between players Aurelien Tchouameni and Federico Valverde. This turmoil comes in the wake of President Florentino Perez’s call for an election following two trophyless seasons. Additionally, Kylian Mbappe publicly suggested that Arbeloa had informed him of being the team’s “fourth-choice forward.”
Mourinho Weighed as a Potential Successor
Speculation surrounds Mourinho’s candidacy to succeed Arbeloa as coach for the next season, with ESPN reporting that he leads a shortlist of three potential replacements. During a press conference before Madrid’s upcoming La Liga match against Sevilla, Arbeloa was asked about Mourinho’s role moving forward. He expressed confidence in his ability to manage the team, saying, “I don’t sympathize with the idea that you can’t manage the dressing room.”
Arbeloa’s Affection for Mourinho Remains Strong
Regarding Mourinho’s influence, Arbeloa stated, “As a player and as a Real Madrid fan, Mourinho is number one for me.” He recalled his recent encounter with Mourinho during a Champions League match against Benfica, emphasizing that the Portuguese coach would always be “one of us.” He added, “If he is here next season, I will be very happy to be back at home.”
Reflecting on His Coaching Tenure
Having been promoted from reserve team manager to take over from Xabi Alonso, Arbeloa denied any damage to his reputation stemming from a challenging finish to the 2025-26 season. As his team prepares for the match against Sevilla, they find themselves 11 points behind rivals Barcelona, who secured the title after recently defeating Madrid in El Clasico.
Mbappe’s Frustration and Communication with Arbeloa
Mbappe missed the Clasico due to an injury but made a substitute appearance in Madrid’s 2-0 victory over Real Oviedo. Post-match, he claimed that Arbeloa had informed him he was the “fourth-choice forward.” However, in a subsequent press conference, Arbeloa clarified that this was a misunderstanding, stating, “I just saw him and told him to relax, I’ll take care of it.”
Maintaining Open Lines of Communication
Arbeloa emphasized that he values transparency with his players and is not concerned about the media sharing personal conversations. He noted, “Whenever I talk to the players, I’m not worried that they might discuss the conversations we had.” Arbeloa concluded that while he appreciates keeping personal matters private, he has no issue if players choose to share them.
