Álvaro Arbeloa, whose four-month interim spell as Real Madrid head coach is drawing to a close, has publicly endorsed José Mourinho's return to the club, saying he would be 'very happy' to see the Portuguese manager back at the Santiago Bernabéu. Arbeloa made the remarks on Saturday, 17 May at a pre-match press conference ahead of Real Madrid's penultimate La Liga fixture against Sevilla.

Arbeloa's Endorsement of Mourinho

Arbeloa was unequivocal in his admiration for the former Real Madrid boss, drawing on both his experience as Mourinho's player and his identity as a lifelong Madridista. 'For me, as his player, but above all as a Madridista, I feel and believe he is number one,' Arbeloa said. He went further, invoking a phrase of deep loyalty: 'José has been, is, and will always be uno di noi. If he is the one here next season, I will be very happy to see him back home.'

The remarks carry added weight given the timing. Reports have emerged that Mourinho is set to meet club president Florentino Pérez next week to discuss a potential return — a meeting that, if confirmed, would signal a serious shift in the club's managerial direction heading into next season.

The 'Unmanageable Dressing Room' Question

Arbeloa's tenure has been marked by reported friction with senior players and questions about his authority in the dressing room. Asked directly about the narrative of an unmanageable squad, he pushed back firmly. 'I don't really understand the idea of an unmanageable dressing room, or at least I don't share it. It's not something that defines the Real Madrid dressing room,' he said. He added that the club would announce next season's coach 'when they see fit.'

Arbeloa Reflects on His Four Months in Charge

With his stint widely expected to end after the current campaign, Arbeloa was reflective when asked how he wished to be remembered. He noted that he has spent 20 of his 43 years connected to Real Madrid — as a youth player, first-team player, club ambassador, youth coach, and now interim first-team coach. 'What I feel is a great deal of affection, and that's it,' he said, declining to offer a more definitive self-assessment.

On the hardest aspect of the job, Arbeloa was candid: not winning was the sharpest pain. 'The most difficult thing in this club is always when you don't win. Not having been able to help them is what has hurt me the most and is undoubtedly the biggest disappointment I take away from these four months,' he said.

What Happens Next

Real Madrid face Sevilla in their penultimate league match before the season concludes. A formal decision on the permanent managerial appointment is expected from the club's hierarchy in the coming days. Should Mourinho's reported meeting with Pérez proceed, it would mark the most significant step yet toward a high-profile return to a club he previously managed from 2010 to 2013.