Alvaro Arbeloa has officially announced his departure from Real Madrid after a four-month stint in charge of the first team. The former defender expressed his gratitude to the club's management and players. This exit comes amidst reports of Jose Mourinho's return to the Santiago Bernabeu, according to Goal.com reports.
Arbeloa was promoted from Real Madrid B to the first team in January following the dismissal of Xabi Alonso, who had been appointed at the start of the season. However, the managerial change did not yield the expected results: the team finished without silverware in both domestic and international competitions. A 2-0 defeat in El Clasico against Barcelona ended their La Liga title hopes, while Bayern Munich eliminated the Madrid side in the Champions League quarter-finals.
In his final press conference, the Spanish coach bid farewell to the club while expressing hope that this was not a permanent goodbye. "I hope this is just a 'see you later,' because I have always considered this place my home. I have worked in various roles within the Real Madrid system for 20 years. I am infinitely grateful to my players; they made me a better coach," said Arbeloa.
Arbeloa ruled out the possibility of remaining on Jose Mourinho's staff. He noted that the Portuguese manager has his own strong coaching team and should bring them with him to Madrid. Instead of returning to the academy or the reserve team, Arbeloa decided to part ways with the club entirely.
At the moment, Jose Mourinho's return to the Real Madrid dugout is almost certain. According to reports, the manager, who led the team from 2010 to 2013, has reached a verbal agreement with the club. Mourinho is expected to arrive with his own assistants to start his new project from scratch.
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