Real Madrid head coach Álvaro Arbeloa has thrown his full support behind embattled president Florentino Pérez, urging the club to stay the course despite a rare two-season trophy drought. In a tense press conference on Tuesday, the 79-year-old Pérez made it clear he has no intention of stepping down—instead calling for elections to give any potential challengers the chance to face him at the ballot box.
Pérez, who has been at the helm since 2000 (barring a three-year hiatus from 2006 to 2009), has faced mounting criticism after Sunday’s 2-0 El Clásico defeat at the Camp Nou handed Barcelona the La Liga title. The loss has fueled speculation that former manager José Mourinho could return to the Bernabéu this summer.
“I know what this club was like before Florentino Pérez arrived, and what it’s been like during his 26 years here,” Arbeloa said ahead of Thursday’s home match against relegated Real Oviedo. “Beyond the titles—which make us great and set us apart—he has done so much. Alongside Santiago Bernabéu, he is the most influential figure in Real Madrid’s history. If anyone can turn this around, it’s Florentino Pérez.”
Arbeloa’s tenure since replacing Xabi Alonso in January has been anything but smooth. The team fell to Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarter-finals and watched bitter rivals Barça clinch the league title with three games to spare. Off the pitch, tensions have flared within the squad, most notably a reported clash between midfielders Federico Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni last week.
Despite the challenges, Arbeloa pushed back on the idea that the club has hit “rock bottom.” “Where are other clubs, then? It’s not like we’ve gone 50 years without winning anything,” he said. “Would anyone bet against Real Madrid winning something next season? I don’t understand this talk of institutional instability, disaster, or a divided dressing room. I just don’t get it.”
On a brighter note, top scorer Kylian Mbappé is expected to return for the clash with bottom-placed Oviedo after missing the last match—a boost Arbeloa and the fans will welcome as they look to finish the season on a high note and rebuild for the next campaign.