Arbeloa Backs Mourinho for Real Madrid Job After Trophy-less Season

Arbeloa 'happy' if Mourinho returns as Real Madrid boss next season

Madrid finished without silverware after losing the Clasico to Barcelona, who sealed the La Liga title last weekend.

Mbappe returned from a thigh injury for Madrid’s win over Real Oviedo but had been benched midweek, drawing criticism from the striker...

Alvaro Arbeloa said on Saturday he’d be happy to see Jose Mourinho take over as Real Madrid coach next season.

Mourinho, who managed Madrid from 2010 to 2013 and had a fierce rivalry with Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona, has been strongly linked with a return to the Santiago Bernabeu.

The Portuguese coach is currently at Benfica, and bringing him back would be a high-risk move for president Florentino Perez after Madrid finished a second straight season without silverware.

“For me, as a former (Madrid) player and as a Madridista, Jose Mourinho is number one. He's one of ours,” Arbeloa told reporters.

“If he comes back next year, I'll be very happy to see him back home.”

Arbeloa took over from Xabi Alonso in January but couldn’t turn Madrid’s season around or secure any silverware.

🚨 Real Madrid have José Mourinho’s full green light since last week and the deal is expected to be completed very soon.

Mou never had any doubts, also never created issues in initial discussions about next steps.

He’s super excited by this second Real Madrid chapter. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/4ONS0nMT6V

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) May 16, 2026

Kylian Mbappe publicly criticized Arbeloa after being left on the bench for Wednesday’s win over Real Oviedo.

Mbappe had just returned from a thigh injury that kept him out of last weekend’s Clasico, where Barcelona beat Madrid to clinch the La Liga title.

“I've just bumped into him. I told him to stay calm. I understand that these kinds of things make headlines, but it's something much more normal than you think,” Arbeloa said.

“I used to be a player, I know what they can feel in these situations - playing every day, then playing less or not at all,” continued the coach.

“I totally understand that Kylian wasn't happy about not playing on Thursday, and I like that.

“I wouldn't understand it if he didn't want to play. My relationship with him remains the same.”