It has been a season of frustration, tension, and uncertainty at Real Madrid—but few have felt the chaos more acutely than Álvaro Arbeloa. The former defender stepped into a demanding role mid-campaign as the successor to Xabi Alonso, and while early signs were promising—with improved results and a calmer atmosphere—the cracks soon deepened.

As the season wore on, tensions within the squad grew stronger, and Arbeloa gradually lost control of a dressing room that now appears badly fractured. Internally, many believe the situation has reached a point where repairing relationships may no longer be possible.

Still, placing the entire blame on Arbeloa would ignore the wider issues that have plagued Real Madrid throughout this campaign. Several players have disappointed with their attitude and behavior during difficult moments. Even with three league matches remaining, there is a growing feeling that the squad has mentally checked out. The intensity, togetherness, and hunger that once defined Real Madrid sides in recent years now seem absent.

Rather than driving the chaos, Arbeloa has looked like someone left to deal with problems alone. One of the clearest examples came after the highly publicized altercation involving Federico Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni. Beyond the official club communication, Arbeloa was effectively the only public figure addressing the situation and trying to calm tensions. The same pattern has repeated itself in discussions about Real Madrid's disappointing campaign overall—while questions mount, very few influential voices inside the club have publicly stepped up.