Real Madrid Reportedly Eye Arbeloa as Alonso Faces Crucial Champions League Test

Real Madrid are said to be weighing up a managerial change, with former club defender Álvaro Arbeloa emerging as a potential replacement for current head coach Xabi Alonso.

This comes after Los Blancos suffered a disappointing 2-0 defeat at home to Celta Vigo on Sunday — a result that has intensified the pressure on Alonso and raised fresh concerns over the team’s trajectory.

Following the loss, club president Florentino Pérez and general director José Ángel Sánchez reportedly held urgent discussions regarding the manager’s future. According to The Athletic, sources close to the meeting are uncertain whether Alonso will remain in charge if Madrid fail to secure a positive result against Manchester City in Wednesday’s Champions League tie.

Although Real Madrid would prefer to continue the project with Alonso, the harsh reality of the Bernabéu is simple: results rule above all else.

In anticipation of a possible change, Madrid have already shortlisted potential candidates — and Arbeloa, currently working within the club’s youth system, is understood to be a highly regarded option.

💭 Opinion & Analysis

It feels strange — almost unfair — to see a club legend like Xabi Alonso under fire so soon. But this is Real Madrid: a place where patience is thinner than the matchday grass and success is demanded yesterday.

If one result against Manchester City truly decides Alonso’s fate, it shows just how brutal the expectations are. Still, this is the same pressure that forged the greatest managerial eras in club history.

As for Arbeloa, he carries Real DNA: loyal, disciplined, respected. But a leap from academy football to the hottest seat in world football would be bold — even risky. Would Madrid trust emotional connection over proven experience?

Whatever happens, Wednesday’s game is no longer just a Champions League fixture… it’s a defining moment for Alonso’s future and perhaps the next chapter in the Madrid dynasty.