Inside Real Madrid: Unease behind the scenes as La Liga slips away under Arbeloa

AlavésAthletic ClubAtlético MadridBarcelonaCelta de VigoElcheEspanyolGetafeGironaLevanteMallorcaOsasunaRayo VallecanoReal BetisReal MadridReal OviedoReal SociedadSevillaValenciaVillarrealPodcastsCopa del ReyInside Real Madrid: Unease behind the scenes as La Liga slips away under ArbeloaReal Madrid's slump continued with a 1-1 draw against Real Betis on Friday Cristina Quicler via Getty Images Share articleWelcome to the latest edition of Inside Real Madrid, our weekly series to follow throughout La Liga’s 2025-26 season. Each week, we will bring you key information and analysis on the biggest talking points, cutting through the noisy world of all things Madridista with reporting you can trust. The information contained in this article reflects multiple conversations with various sources at Madrid, all of whom spoke anonymously to protect relationships. The downward trajectory is becoming harder to ignore. Real Madrid could only muster a 1-1 draw away to Real Betis on Friday, another flat note in a poor run. Since the March international break, Alvaro Arbeloa’s side have managed one win in six games across all competitions. Their Champions League quarter-final exit to Bayern Munich removed one of the club’s key objectives and their title challenge in La Liga has followed a similar path. Barcelona are 11 points clear at the top of the table and could seal the title on Sunday if they beat Osasuna on Saturday and Madrid fail to win at Espanyol the following day. Failing that, Barca could win it in the Clasico at the Camp Nou on Sunday, May 10. Doubts about Arbeloa, who replaced the sacked Xabi Alonso in January, have intensified behind the scenes. Key figures within the club hierarchy, including president Florentino Perez, already had concerns about his readiness for the role when he was appointed. But senior club sources have stressed the need for caution, indicating that any changes will be assessed at the end of the campaign. The issues extend beyond results under Arbeloa. There was tension this past week between Arbeloa and captain Dani Carvajal after the coach was asked about the right-back’s lack of playing time following last week’s 2-1 win against Alaves. While Arbeloa publicly praised Carvajal in his next press conference and left the door open for a contract extension — the 34-year-old’s deal ends in June — he was left on the bench on Friday night. Midfielder Dani Ceballos was out of the squad entirely against Betis, his former team. Arbeloa told reporters after the game that it had been a technical decision, and the 29-year-old is expected to leave this summer. While some senior players, including Vinicius Junior, have publicly backed the coach, there has been a longer-standing disconnect with a core group of Spanish players. Multiple sources close to that group describe a feeling of those players not being treated as fairly as others. Real Madrid and Arbeloa’s camp did not respond when approached for comment. With no major trophies realistically within reach, the unease behind the scenes is palpable. Many of the players’ attention will soon turn to the World Cup in North America, if it hasn’t already. The team’s problems run far deeper than a perceived lack of motivation. Ferland Mendy came in at left-back in place of Alvaro Carreras while 18-year-old Thiago Pitarch was handed his first start since the 2-1 first-leg defeat against Bayern Munich. Pitarch’s inclusion was the most surprising. In recent weeks, sources within the club hierarchy expressed a feeling that Arbeloa had made things more difficult for his team, as well as upsetting the dressing-room dynamic, by handing call-ups to academy players. Despite a bright start and Madrid taking the lead through Vinicius Jr in the 16th minute, there was a familiar lack of efficiency in front of goal. Kylian Mbappe, Jude Belingham, Federico Valverde and Vinicius Jr all failed to convert presentable opportunities. More concerning was the growing defensive fragility as the game wore on, exposed on the counter-attack and from set pieces. Goalkeeper Andrii Lunin was the standout performer, with three outstanding saves to keep Betis at bay. But the one effort he could not stop came in the 94th minute, when the former Arsenal right-back Hector Bellerin found himself unmarked inside the area and took advantage of defensive disorganisation to slot home. Lunin had faced criticism following the quarter-final defeat to Bayern, so this was a strong response from the 27-year-old Ukrainian. After the match, sources close to Lunin — who have previously advised him to seek a move elsewhere in search of more game time — believed he was now more likely to stay next season and feel the club want him to continue. Carlo Ancelotti’s son and his former Madrid assistant Davide Ancelotti was watching events unfold in Seville and showed visible concern at full time. The Italian was in one of the executive boxes at the Estadio de La Cartuja with family and friends. Sources at Madrid’s Valdebebas base say he continues to be spoken about very positively internally, a year on from his departure. The most worrying development was Mbappe’s substitution after 80 minutes with discomfort in his left hamstring. The France captain underwent further tests and did not train with Madrid on Monday. The club then confirmed that Mbappe had suffered a hamstring injury but that the forward is targeting a return against Barca in El Clasico. Recent injuries — including hamstring issues for Arda Guler (right) and Eder Militao (left), which are expected to rule both out for at least the rest of the season —  have heightened fitness concerns behind the scenes. Further changes to the club’s medical department were already under consideration before those setbacks. Niko Mihic returned as their head of medical services in January — having continued to play a role as an adviser since 2023 — amid concerns over the team’s injury record during Alonso’s time in charge, when Felipe Segura served as chief doctor. Segura remains at the club, though no longer in that lead role. According to multiple well-placed sources, one option under consideration is for Mihic to oversee a broader overhaul of the department, implementing the changes that are deemed necessary. Another element to keep across is Madrid’s plans for pre-season. While sources involved stress nothing is fully decided — the club typically make these decisions late — there is a growing expectation they may not go on an overseas tour this summer. One alternative would be to take part in selected friendly tournaments. One possibility is the Trofeo Teresa Herrera, an annual competition organised by Deportivo La Coruna, who are celebrating their 120th anniversary. Elsewhere, this week will see professional tennis players training on a temporary clay court installed at the Bernabeu as part of an agreement with the Madrid Open — an initiative designed to showcase the stadium from a different perspective. Despite ongoing legal issues over concert noise levels, which have prevented any gigs from taking place at the Bernabeu since 2024, a senior source with knowledge of the club’s finances says stadium revenues are exceeding projections from the previous financial year. That source says that payments related to the deal with Sixth Street, which provided €360million (£314.8m; $418.7m) in 2022 in exchange for 30 per cent of the revenue from stadium operations for 30 years, are also up to date. Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms