Álvaro Arbeloa has addressed suggestions of any rift with Dani Carvajal, attributing his choice to select Trent Alexander-Arnold over the Real Madrid captain in recent matches to “sporting reasons.”
Carvajal’s season has been plagued by injuries, most recently sidelining him for over two months due to a knee issue. This has led to uncertainty regarding his inclusion in Spain‘s squad for the 2026 World Cup, especially with Alexander-Arnold claiming his starting position.
Following Madrid’s 2-1 victory against Alavés, where Alexander-Arnold started before being substituted for Carvajal, Arbeloa responded curtly to inquiries about the selection, stating he would focus on what benefits the team. This led to speculation regarding his relationship with Carvajal.
“It was merely a concise, serious response to what I felt was an inappropriate question,” Arbeloa clarified during a press conference on Thursday ahead of Madrid’s clash with Real Betis.
“It had nothing to do with Dani Carvajal. If you look at my history here, you’ll see how I have consistently spoken about him, and my players can attest to how I refer to Carvajal within the group.”
“Some are attempting to twist this into an unfair narrative. Dani is fully prepared for the World Cup. He has played in crucial matches for us and performed admirably. He is an essential player, both on the field and off, and should be regarded as such for the national team […] He might just be one of the most significant academy graduates in the club’s history.
“My relationship with him has always been excellent. It’s hard for me to believe that any coach would select a lineup based on anything other than sporting merit.”
In recent matches, Alexander-Arnold has started against teams such as Manchester City, Mallorca, Bayern Munich, and Alavés, while Carvajal played against Elche, Atlético Madrid, and Girona.
For Spain, Carvajal faces stiff competition from Marcos Llorente, who has excelled at Atlético this season, and Tottenham‘s Pedro Porro as he prepares for this summer’s World Cup.
“Trent Alexander-Arnold is performing at an exceptional level,” Arbeloa noted. “His contributions are unquestionable. At this moment, he has earned his place, and Carvajal has also done well when given the chance… I’m not a coach who gives playing time away as a favor.”
The future looks uncertain for Carvajal, 34, as his contract with Madrid is set to expire in June.
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“I’ve always maintained — and with various players I reiterate this — that it is a matter between Carvajal and the club,” Arbeloa elaborated.
“All I can express is my sentiments over these past months, which is that he has been a tremendous asset for us. What is favorable for Carvajal and the club is what brings me joy.”
Laughing off rumors that star forward Kylian Mbappé had ‘liked’ a post on Instagram discussing a potential return to Madrid for former coach José Mourinho this summer, Arbeloa remarked, “I won’t engage with that. Whether it’s a like for Mourinho or Julia Roberts, it doesn’t concern me.”