Real Madrid News
Arbeloa’s four options for the future as Real Madrid reign nears an end – report
After the worst possible end to a campaign, in which Real Madrid will have won zero titles, Alvaro Arbeloa’s time at Real Madrid appears to be coming to an end.
Real Madrid are actively searching the market for a new manager, with Jose Mourinho emerging as a potential favourite.
That does leave Arbeloa’s future at the club in limbo, as the Spaniard was essentially promoted to first-team coaching. Whether or not he will return to Castilla remains the big question.
Four options on the table
According to Defensa Central, Arbeloa has four possible paths following his exit from the first-team setup.
The first is a return to Castilla, where he worked before his promotion. However, that would require structural changes in the youth academy, given that Julian Lopez de Lerma is currently performing well with the reserve side.
The second option is a role within the new manager’s coaching staff. This scenario becomes particularly plausible if Mourinho is appointed as the next head coach.
Benfica are keen to renew Mourinho’s contract, but Real Madrid remain attentive to developments.
The third path is a move into La Liga or another top-flight league as a head coach, continuing his development on the sidelines independently of Real Madrid.
The fourth option is to remain within the club’s sporting structure in a different capacity, something his current contract with the club would allow.
Beyond Arbeloa’s future, Real Madrid are preparing for a significant summer overhaul.
Dani Carvajal and David Alaba are both expected to leave, while Fran Garcia, Raul Asencio, Eduardo Camavinga, Dani Ceballos, and Gonzalo Garcia all face uncertain futures at the club.
Real Madrid News
Rayo Vallecano manager names the one Real Madrid figure he would remove from the team
Rayo Vallecano face a daunting trip to the Santiago Bernabeu to take on a wounded Real Madrid this weekend.
Life after Inigo Perez has not been kind to the Vallecas-based club, who have already had to travel to Camp Nou and now face a trip to the home of their city giants.
Speaking ahead of the game (h/t Madrid Xtra), Rayo Vallecano manager Benat San Jose was asked which Real Madrid player he would like to remove from the team before this weekend’s game.
Surprisingly, his choice was not Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior or Thibaut Courtois.
“Mourinho”
Asked which Madrid player he would take out of the upcoming contest, Benat jokingly chose the man sitting on the opposition bench.
“Which Real Madrid player I’d remove from the match against them? Mourinho,” Benat said with a laugh.
The answer might have been delivered jokingly, but the Rayo coach immediately made clear just how highly he rates the Portuguese manager.
“He’s one of the best managers in history,” he added.
It is significant praise ahead of Saturday’s meeting at the Bernabeu.
Madrid’s squad contains enough individual quality to give any opposition coach several obvious answers, but Benat instead highlighted the influence Mourinho can have over the entire team.
That has become particularly relevant since the Portuguese coach returned to Madrid. His early work has focused on making a talented group function with greater collective discipline.
Courtois and Madrid’s attack also praised
Benat did not stop with the manager.
“They also have one of the best GKs in history and one of the best attackers in history,” he said.
Benat will definitely have seen how Thibaut Courtois played against Inter Milan in midweek and will hope that version does not turn up again this weekend.
Even when teams manage to create opportunities against Madrid, they still have to beat one of the defining goalkeepers of his generation.
At the opposite end, Madrid possess attacking quality capable of turning a match on its head.
The likes of Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham can all decide matches single-handedly.
Madrid have a point to prove
Madrid are coming off a disappointing loss to Real Betis in La Liga last weekend and will come into this game with a point to prove.
They will want to ensure that the loss to the Andalusian club was a one-off and that they return to winning ways against Rayo.
Their title rivals, Barça, have been flying high in the league, scoring goals and picking opponents apart for fun.
Madrid need to ensure that they do not hand too much early incentive to Barça, and it remains to be seen how Los Blancos fare against Rayo Vallecano.
