It’s been a “week from hell” for Alvaro Arbeloa, as the Real Madrid coach is facing a team in “civil war”.
Tensions in training erupted this week, with Federico Valverde ending up in hospital after a clash with midfield teammate Aurelien Tchouameni.
Meanwhile, Alvaro Carreras appears to have confirmed reports that he was slapped by Antonio Rudiger in a separate incident.
Disagreements within the dressing room have reportedly reached new levels, amid rumors of a factional split within the team.
According to reports, only four players are said to continue to support Arbeloa as coach, while several others are suspected of no longer even being in communication with him.
The former right-back is widely expected to leave the position at the end of the season, but these last few weeks must seem interminable for the man who was thought to have stabilised the situation following the sudden departure of Xabi Alonso in January.
The next nightmare: El Clasico
The climax of this dark week for Arbeloa comes on Sunday, when Real Madrid travels to Catalonia to face Barcelona in the final El Clasico of the season.
If the home team avoids defeat, they will be declared La Liga champions for the second time in a row, leaving their arch-rivals without an important trophy this season as well.
The opportunity to be “part” of Barcelona’s crowning is expected to be particularly difficult for Arbeloa, who has a long history of antagonism with the Catalan club.
During his playing career, Arbeloa – known as Madrid’s fiery defender on and off the pitch – often clashed with Barca stars, earning him a nickname over the years that has still haunted him.
Arbeloa known as “Koni”
In 2015, Arbeloa tweeted about Gerard Pique: “One day I’ll see my friend Gerard at the Comedy Club, definitely talking about Real Madrid.”
Pique responded a few days later, telling reporters: “I wouldn’t call him a friend, more of an acquaintance.”
The Spanish word for “known” is conocido, and Pique emphasized the first syllable “cono” – meaning “cone.” He joked that Arbeloa, as a player, was as useful as a training cone.
The nickname stuck and Arbeloa was often called “cono” by rival fans over the years, despite his success, which included two Champions League titles with Real Madrid.
Is the Madrid bench using the nickname too? It seems the nickname isn’t just for rivals. Journalist Manolo Lama claims that even some of the Real Madrid stars warming the bench are using the term for their coach.
He said: “A lot of the problems come from the fact that the Spanish players who are not playing, when they are on the bench, continue to call Arbeloa ‘cone’.
“‘Look at that cone, how weak it is… look at that cone, you don’t understand.'”
It is said that Arbeloa did not hear this nickname directly, but the information reached him through his staff.
Meanwhile, AS reports that Real Madrid have even considered “setting traps” to catch the person leaking information from the dressing room, following sensational leaks that have revealed the turbulent situation within the club.
