The difficulties are mounting for Real Madrid coach Álvaro Arbeloa, with a new crisis erupting with one of the club’s stars following the recent dispute with captain Dani Carvajal over his lack of playing time.
According to Marca, David Alaba frankly expressed his frustration to Arbeloa about his lack of playing time despite being physically fit and performing well in training.
Since returning from injury on December 20th, Alaba has only played 65 minutes, while appearing almost constantly in Real Madrid’s squad for 15 consecutive matches. This has angered the Austrian, who feels the situation is unfair.
Alaba made it clear to Arbeloa that he is unhappy with the current situation and eager to return to the starting lineup, especially given the severe shortage of available center-backs. Despite this, the coach prefers to rely on other options instead of the 32-year-old.
Although the situation seems complicated, Arbeloa isn’t worried about Alaba’s position. The player doesn’t have the same support from the management or the fans as Carvajal, so it’s unlikely he’ll cause any trouble or put further pressure on the Real Madrid coach.
Arbeloa believes that even though Alaba has regained his fitness, he’s still far from his usual level. It’s clear how injuries have affected him over the last two years, coupled with his limited playing time. Therefore, it’s difficult to rely on him, especially in the crucial matches Real Madrid is currently facing.
It’s worth noting that Alaba’s contract with Real Madrid expires at the end of this season, and it’s certain he won’t renew at the Santiago Bernabéu. Florentino Pérez’s administration tried to terminate his contract last summer, but the player insisted on staying until the summer of 2026, which explains the lack of support for his current stance and the surrounding controversy.
