News Focus
- Arbeloa has reportedly lost the trust of several senior squad members at Valdebebas
- Spanish internationals feel overlooked in favour of high-profile signings and new academy graduates
- Dani Ceballos has been removed from first-team selection amid the fallout
- Kylian Mbappe’s recent off-pitch conduct has caused friction within the camp
- The club faces a second successive season without major silverware
Real Madrid are enduring a turbulent campaign and will finish a second straight year without lifting a major trophy. Their troubles on the pitch have been matched by chaos in the dugout, where head coach Alvaro Arbeloa is rapidly losing control of the dressing room.
The former Spain international enjoyed a positive start following his appointment, but relations have soured dramatically in recent weeks. According to reports from El Mundo, tensions at the club’s training ground have reached boiling point.
Arbeloa has allegedly clashed with club captain Dani Carvajal, defender Raul Asencio, full-back Alvaro Carreras, and midfielder Dani Ceballos. The latter has been made unavailable for selection indefinitely. All four players share a common background as products of the Madrid academy, and they believe the manager has shown them a lack of respect.
This group feels that Arbeloa has directed his praise toward the club’s expensive superstars and breakthrough youngsters this season, whilst offering little encouragement to established homegrown professionals. This perceived favouritism has caused divisions within the squad.
The situation has been complicated further by Kylian Mbappe, who is currently sidelined with a hamstring injury. Several teammates have reportedly questioned the French forward’s commitment after he was photographed travelling across Europe with actress Ester Exposito during his recovery period. Arbeloa’s decision to publicly defend Mbappe following Sunday’s victory against Espanyol has only intensified the unrest among senior players.
With no silverware secured and squad harmony at breaking point, a managerial overhaul appears inevitable when the season concludes. Regardless of whether Arbeloa’s decisions were justified, his inability to maintain positive relationships with key dressing room figures makes his position untenable.