Alvaro Arbeloa confirmed he will not be in charge next season and said he would not join Mourinho’s staff if the Portuguese coach takes over
Alvaro Arbeloa has publicly acknowledged that he will vacate his position as first-team coach at Real Madrid at the end of a campaign that ended without silverware. Asked directly about his future, Arbeloa said yes to leaving, underlining that this season will be his last in the role for now.
His statement arrived amid mounting coverage that veteran manager José Mourinho is set to return to the club, an outcome that has dominated headlines and shaped discussions inside the club and among supporters.
Arbeloa was appointed in January by club president Florentino Pérez to replace Xabi Alonso after Alonso’s dismissal, and his tenure saw him try to steady a turbulent dressing room.
The former player, who represented Real Madrid from 2009 to 2016 and later coached at youth levels, framed his departure in familiar terms: he hopes this is a see you later rather than a final goodbye. He also made clear one immediate boundary — he would not remain as part of Mourinho’s backroom team should the Portuguese arrive.
Agreement for Mourinho and the logistics of a return
Multiple outlets report that José Mourinho has reached a verbal agreement to return to Real Madrid on what has been described as a two-year deal with an option for an extra year. That arrangement follows intense negotiations involving Mourinho’s agent, Jorge Mendes, and the club’s hierarchy. Sources say Mourinho’s contract at Benfica included a clause that allows him to leave for a fee — widely reported as a buyout clause — enabling a move despite his existing commitments. The public unveiling of any agreement has been timed around Real Madrid’s final league fixture at home, and an official presentation is expected to follow.
Benfica context and the renewal offer
At Benfica, Mourinho had been tied to a deal running to 2027, and club officials reportedly offered him fresh terms to remain. Mourinho confirmed a renewal proposal was put to his agent but said he would only examine it after Benfica’s season concluded, effectively pausing immediate decisions while transfer windows and contract mechanics played out. Reports also indicate Mourinho may bring a small coaching cohort with him — possibly four staff members from his Benfica operation — underlining the practical essentials of any transition back to the Bernabéu.
Squad tensions and the management challenge
The context for any incoming manager is complicated. Real Madrid closed a troubled season that featured visible tensions between staff and players, including a public exchange in which Kylian Mbappé criticised the club’s structure and his role. That episode, alongside other frictions involving figures such as Vinícius Júnior, frames the central challenge: restoring cohesion across high-profile personalities. Mourinho’s reputation for firm man-management is a key reason he is being considered, and his potential return has been presented as an attempt to reimpose discipline and direction in a locker room described by insiders as unruly.
Past achievements and present scepticism
Mourinho’s first spell at the club (2010–2013) included a landmark 100-point season when Real Madrid won LaLiga, a campaign remembered for its scoring records and dominance. Those achievements are often cited as evidence he can engineer a turnaround. Yet critics point out that Mourinho has not won a domestic league since 2015 and that the last decade has featured spells of controversy and uneven results. Supporters of the appointment argue his authority could unite the dressing room, while detractors warn that his style risks intensifying internal divides rather than healing them.
Arbeloa’s immediate future and the club’s next steps
Arbeloa has been frank about his plans: he will not serve under Mourinho if the Portuguese is confirmed, leaving his next moves open as he indicated he would consider options from Monday after the season’s closing stages. For now, his focus is on the final LaLiga fixture at the Santiago Bernabéu — a match he described as an opportunity to enjoy his last game of this campaign and to try to secure a positive result. Meanwhile, the club prepares for what many expect to be a formal announcement of their incoming manager and the start of a new chapter at the Bernabéu.
What to watch next
The immediate timeline to monitor includes the club’s final league match, the official presentation of the incoming coach, and any confirmations about staff and contract terms. The arrival of a high-profile figure such as José Mourinho would bring both sporting expectations and scrutiny, as the club balances the aspiration to return to winning ways with the need to manage personalities, contracts and long-term strategy.
