Alvaro Arbeloa has confirmed he will not remain with Real Madrid next season, as former manager Jose Mourinho is reportedly poised to return to the Bernabeu for a second spell. The Portuguese coach left Benfica after an unbeaten domestic campaign that saw his side finish third, and is expected to take over at Real Madrid 13 years after his departure.
Arbeloa's Departure Confirmed
Arbeloa, who took over from Xabi Alonso in January, has steered Real Madrid to a second-place finish in La Liga, though they trail champions Barcelona by 11 points. Despite a trophyless campaign, the former Real defender expressed pride in his work but acknowledged he will not be part of Mourinho's coaching staff.
“I’m not here to talk about possibilities. In Mou’s case, I think he has a fantastic coaching staff, as good as he is, and I think he is very well surrounded,” Arbeloa told a press conference ahead of Sunday’s final game against Athletic Bilbao. “If he comes to Real Madrid, he will do so with his coaching staff, as it should be. There is no possibility that I could be part of it.”
Looking Ahead
Arbeloa reflected on his brief tenure, saying, “I have spent four months not thinking about myself, focusing on Real Madrid and the next game. Starting Monday, it will be time for me to think about what’s best for me.” He added, “A year ago, I saw myself coaching in the academy, with the youth A team, and now I am here. I have already made the leap, improved greatly over these four months, and I feel prepared for new challenges.”
While ruling out an immediate return, Arbeloa left the door open for a future role at the club. “Hopefully, it’s a ‘see you later’ because I have always considered this my home. I have been part of Real Madrid for 20 years in many roles,” he said. “It’s clear that this will be my last match this season as coach of Real Madrid, but I don’t know if it will be the last of my life as a Real Madrid coach.”
Farewell to Carvajal and Valverde
The season finale will also see long-serving captain Dani Carvajal leave the club. Meanwhile, Athletic Bilbao are bidding farewell to manager Ernesto Valverde, who departs San Mames after more than 500 matches across three spells with the Basque club.
