Real Madrid’s season of internal tension continues, with Alvaro Arbeloa attacked by a first-team star for his team selection.
Los Blancos have had a campaign littered with behind-the-scenes problems, starting almost immediately following the arrival of new head coach Xabi Alonso in the summer. Vinicius Junior publicly clashed with the Spaniard, which was a contributing factor as he was sacked in January.
Now Arbeloa faces player pressure amid a difficult run of form that has seen Real Madrid lose four of their last 10 matches, falling off the pace of La Liga leaders Barcelona and risk Champions League elimination in the process.
Raul Asencio clashes with Arbeloa
The latest first-team player to fall out with Real Madrid’s head coach is Raul Asencio, who was left furious when he learned he was dropped for the Champions League clash against Manchester City.
Marca reports that he confronted Arbeloa about the decision, but their relationship between the pair deteriorated further when the centre-back pulled out of the clash against Elche, citing muscle discomfort on the day of the game.
In turn, Antonio Rudiger was left angry about being told that he was starting that match at the eleventh hour. It had been planned he would rest and this late change disrupted his strict pre-match preparations.
Asencio would not be used against City and Atletico Madrid, even though he was training normally. It is claimed that the player’s failure to apologise to the coach for benching him in the initial match against City was the reason for this.
When the player did ultimately apologise, he was told it would have to be done in front of the whole squad, else he would not be used. When Asencio refused to do this, Arbeloa kept dropping him.
After the international break, the centre-back ultimately backed down but has not been used yet.
His Real Madrid career appears to be on the line, with Everton and West Ham both circling ahead of the summer transfer window.
Real Madrid given toxic player power warning by Alonso
The drama with Asencio is far from the first background crisis that Real Madrid have faced this season, with many fans unhappy at the player power that was exerted to have Alonso sacked.
The former Bayer Leverkusen boss had warned club chiefs about the toxic atmosphere at the club.
Cadena SER journalist Anton Meana reported: “At Alonso’s last meeting, during which he was fired, he made it clear to the club that they could not give so much power to the players, which he considers the main problem of his time at Real Madrid.
“The coach believes that he was left unprotected and is surprised by the club’s permanent defence of the players. As he was accused of not controlling the squad, he believes that it is impossible to dominate a locker room when the club is always on the side of the players and not on that of the coach, even when he is right in his sports decisions.”
Alonso stood accused of having fallen out with senior players such as Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Junior, with the latter notably undermining him during El Clasico by marching straight up the tunnel when replaced.
This has been the trend of Real Madrid’s season, and it appears that the issues have not been entirely resolved under Arbeloa.
Related stories:
Vinicius Junior facing uncertain Real Madrid future after ‘infuriating’ Champions League display
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