Real Madrid is in a bad period, not only for the results on the field (elimination in the Champions League and the La Liga title now in the hands of Barcelona), but also for the internal management of the team. At the center of controversy has once again ended the coach of “Los Blancos”, Alvaro Arbeloa, against whom very serious accusations have been raised by a well-known figure of Spanish football, former goalkeeper Santiago Cañizares. According to the latter, since Arbeloa became coach of the Madrid team, the playing time of one player in particular has been significantly reduced. The reason? Disagreements, old rivalries on the field and a kind of revenge…
The Carvajal case: a captain in the shadows
Since Arbeloa took over at Real Madrid in January, Carvajal has played very little, something that many consider insufficient for a player of his level. In the Champions League he has four appearances out of eight possible, mainly as a substitute. In the King's Cup only one match, which was disappointing against Albacete. While in La Liga, out of 15 matches he has played only seven, four of them as a starter. In the last one against Betis he stayed on the bench for the entire match.
For many, the roots of this tension go back to the 2013/14 season, when Carvajal, then a youngster, took over from current first-team coach Arbeloa, then a player under Italian Carlo Ancelotti. The tension between them seems never to have completely disappeared. Some Spanish media outlets suggest that the current coach is using his position to seek revenge, an accusation that Arbeloa himself has dismissed as baseless.
Canizare's accusation: a story of football revenge
Santiago Canizares, now an analyst and former goalkeeper for Valencia and Real Madrid, has sparked the debate: "The problem is that Carvajal is the one who ended Alvaro Arbeloa's time as a Real Madrid player. When someone comes and takes your place, you see it as something unfair." Canizares compares the situation to a personal experience at Valencia with Quique Sánchez Flores and Amedeo Carboni, highlighting how power relations can affect team dynamics.
Technician Arbeloa's response
In response to the accusations, Arbeloa told a press conference: "They are trying to attribute an unjustified role to me in relation to Carvajal. Anyone who thinks I choose the formation for personal reasons is someone who would do it himself first." Arbeloa insists that his decisions are based solely on sporting criteria and not personal ones.
Tense climate
The situation remains delicate, with fans divided between those who support Carvajal and those who believe in Arbeloa. Real Madrid is in a moment where unity is required, in a season that is expected to end without a trophy. If “Los Blancos” want to end the season on a positive note, the Carvajal issue must be managed carefully: how true is this story of jealousy and revenge?