The dysfunction around Real Madrid has become unbearable, and after the blow up between star midfielders Aurelien Tchouameni and Fede Valverde, a collective sense of embarrassment has settled across the Merengue fan base. Real have fallen so far below the standard of being the biggest club in Europe, and with a battle against Barcelona in El Clasico that could seal the title to their biggest rivals, the bleeding may not be done yet.
Just as Xabi Alonso was before him, Real Madrid manager Alvaro Arbeloa finds himself increasingly mired in controversy, a victim of the utter dysfunction that has gripped the Royal Whites in the 2025/26 season.
Although the star players like Fede, Jude Bellingham, Tchouameni, Vinicius Junior, and Kylian Mbappe are the ones facing the most negative spotlight in the media, it seems like the players using them as a shield are actually the biggest malcontents in the background - hiding behind the big stars to complain, moan, and genuinely make the entire environment even more toxic. It's not that the stars are blameless by any means, but at least they can also play; Real Madrid have inflated egoes who are not even important to the club.
David Alaba is no better than the rest
According to a new report from MARCA, via the Madrid Zone, six different players have confronted Alvaro Arbeloa this season. Dani Ceballos is the most infamous and literally told the coach he does not want to even talk to him at all, which sounds like something a teenage girl would say. David Alaba seemed like a reasonable leader, but it turns out he's as big of a problem as Ceballos; he also told Arbeloa he doesn't want to talk to him either, upset that he does not play (because he stinks, of course).
The others are also useless to Real Madrid. We already knew about young, immature defenders Raul Asencio and Alvaro Carreras, who throw tantrums about being (rightfully) benched. Then there is the other member of the Spanish contingent, Dani Carvajal, who has disgraced himself as a Real Madrid legend with his constant qualms. Apparently his issues started from when David Jimenez got a shot over him.
Finally, Eduardo Camavinga has been one of the club's biggest disappointments this season, and despite looking within, even he is joining the handful of the club's other major disappointments - and he was actually the first of the bunch to go after Arbeloa.
It is really, really telling that the angriest players are the ones who are playing the worst. Arbeloa is right for benching these guys, and, if anything, he should be even more harsh on them for their bad attitudes in combination with their atrocious play.
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