Álvaro Arbeloa’s stint at Real Madrid is off to a rocky start, and the Spaniard’s future at the club is already in question. Reports now suggest that Los Blancos are preparing a list of potential replacements and have added a Premier League manager to their considerations.
Real Madrid Planning for Álvaro Arbeloa Replacement?
Xabi Alonso parted ways with Real Madrid earlier this month, less than 24 hours after a Spanish Super Cup loss to Barcelona. The legendary midfielder lasted just seven months in the role after joining from Bayer Leverkusen in June 2025 to replace Carlo Ancelotti.
He was replaced by Arbeloa on the same day, with the club indicating it had a contingency plan in place should the Spanish Super Cup final not go as hoped. That plan now appears to be in motion as Madrid evaluates its options just days into Arbeloa’s tenure following a Copa del Rey exit and a shocking 4-2 loss to Benfica, which saw the club miss out on the UEFA Champions League top eight.
According to journalist Patrick Berger, Aston Villa manager Unai Emery is among the names on Real Madrid’s radar. The club is reportedly impressed with the former Sevilla coach and has already initiated contact.
Madrid’s board is pleased with the work Emery has done at Villa Park, where the club currently sits third in the Premier League standings. Villa is ahead of Liverpool, Manchester United, and Chelsea, despite a slow start to the season.
However, the Spanish giants would need to pay a compensation fee to hire Emery, as he is under contract with the Premier League club through 2029. Additionally, Madrid would need to dismiss Arbeloa, who has publicly stated that he intends to remain at the club as long as it wants him, suggesting he would not step aside voluntarily as Alonso did.
“I’ve been at this club for 20 years, and I’ll be here as long as Real Madrid want me to be. This is my home, and it always will be. This club is about winning, winning, and winning again. Those demands are a reflection of the DNA that has brought us here, to this trophy-laden history.”
Emery has previously managed Valencia, Villarreal, and Sevilla in Spain and enjoyed success at each stop. However, his two stints at major clubs, Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal, did not go as planned, and he was dismissed by both.
