As Real Madrid continues to seek stability after the shock of Xabi Alonso’s departure, cracks are starting to show, this time with Álvaro Arbeloa.
Last Sunday, after a hard-fought victory against Rayo Vallecano, the heavy silence in the corridors of the Bernabéu spoke volumes. It took over an hour for Álvaro Arbeloa to appear at the press conference, an unusual delay that fueled speculation. When asked about his silence, the coach offered a terse response: “I’m fine, thanks for your concern.”
Behind this smoke screen, the reality seems much harsher. According to El Periódico, a heated argument erupted between the senior players and their new coach. The point of contention: disputed tactical choices and questionable match management. For the stars of Real, the verdict is harsh: the head coach role might be too big for the former defender.
Pintus, the point of tension
The discomfort goes far beyond mere tactical choices. The real breaking point stems from a decision imposed by Florentino Pérez: the return of Antonio Pintus to the forefront. Nicknamed “El Diablo” by the players, Pintus is not just a fitness coach; he is the eyes and ears of the president.
It was on this very point that Xabi Alonso sealed his fate. By refusing to include Pintus in his staff, the Basque coach hastened his own exit. Now, Arbeloa, seen as an interim with little real power, is feeling the full force of this forced coexistence. The players, aware that every word spoken in front of the staff goes straight to the top, have chosen to remain silent.
A sign of this loss of authority: while Arbeloa requested more training sessions to get things back on track, the dressing room secured two immediate days off. A slap in the face for the coach, just as Pintus launches his “mini-preseason” with hypoxia masks to stimulate a team struggling to keep up in the Champions League. In Madrid, the message is clear: the dressing room could abandon Arbeloa and remains wary of Pintus.
