Real Madrid News
Alvaro Arbeloa closing in on historic Real Madrid record
Real Madrid manager Alvaro Arbeloa is building momentum on the touchline, and the numbers are beginning to tell a very interesting story.
The former Real Madrid defender, who took over after the departure of Xabi Alonso, has guided the team to five consecutive victories in La Liga.
The wins have come against Levante, Villarreal, Rayo Vallecano, Valencia, and Real Sociedad, a run that has restored confidence around the club after a difficult stretch earlier in the season.
The positive results have also placed Arbeloa on the brink of making history at the Santiago Bernabeu.
A record to chase
According to reports from Mundo Deportivo, the Spaniard is now just two wins away from matching the best start by a Real Madrid coach in the club’s history.
The current record belongs to Vanderlei Luxemburgo, who won his first seven matches after arriving during the 2004-05 season.
The run eventually ended with a 0-2 defeat to Athletic Club at the Santiago Bernabeu, and Real Madrid finished the season in second place, four points behind Barcelona in the La Liga standings.
Interestingly, the second-best start in the club’s history is far more recent. It was achieved earlier this very season by Xabi Alonso himself.
After making his debut as Real Madrid coach at the Club World Cup, Alonso oversaw six consecutive La Liga wins between August and the end of September.
During that stretch, Real Madrid defeated Osasuna, Oviedo, Mallorca, Real Sociedad, Espanyol, and Levante. The run came to an end with a heavy defeat in the Madrid derby at the Metropolitano.
To put things in perspective, we must look back at the records of the previous Real Madrid managers.
Carlo Ancelotti, arguably the most successful manager in the club’s history, won his first three matches. Furthermore, Zinedine Zidane registered two wins in his start at the club.
Lastly, Vicente del Bosque, Bernd Schuster, and Julen Lopetegui won three league matches.
Real Madrid News
Real Madrid set to pocket €4 million from the sale of academy talent to Premier League club
Alvaro Arbeloa’s move to Fulham after his stint as the Real Madrid manager has resulted in the Premier League side heavily targeting Los Blancos’ youth players.
After all, Arbeloa has worked with all of Castilla’s young talents in the past and is the best candidate to bring them to the big stage.
So far this summer, the former Real Madrid coach has already swooped away Gonzalo Garcia and Cesar Palacios from Real Madrid.
Manuel Angel is England-bound
And as already confirmed, Fulham are close to a third acquisition from La Fabrica. Indeed, Real Madrid’s young academy talent Manuel Angel is close to making his move to Fulham official.
According to journalist Jose Luis Sanchez, the English side are set to pay Los Blancos a sum of €4 million for the player’s transfer and will only be purchasing 50% of his rights.
Real Madrid, unsurprisingly, will continue to retain the remaining 50% of his rights as has been their policy with many youth player sales in recent times.
Further, the report also confirms that Real Madrid will retain the right of first refusal over any of the player’s future transfer from Fulham, effectively handing them complete control over his future.
Already in England
As reported earlier today, Angel is already in London and has already undergone his medical tests ahead of the move being finalised.
Given that Real Madrid have already sanctioned the player’s travel to England, it is clear and beyond doubt that the move will go through this summer. In fact, an official announcement can be expected as early as the coming hours.
Angel was the captain of Real Madrid Castilla last season and has always been seen as one of the academy’s highest-rated players. He had several offers from Spain this summer, but opted to move to England likely on Arbeloa’s request.
Real Madrid, for their part, will hope that the player flourishes in the Premier League so that they can make a sizeable profit on any future transfer.
A return, after all, looks unlikely given the competition in midfield in Jose Mourinho’s squad.
