Real Madrid's dressing room is in turmoil, and the cracks are widening by the day. Following a week marked by physical altercations and a breakdown in squad discipline, manager Álvaro Arbeloa finds himself increasingly isolated—with reports suggesting only four first-team players still support him.
According to L'Equipe, the remaining loyalists are Vinicius Jr., Jude Bellingham, Federico Valverde, and Fran Garcia. That's a stark contrast to the rest of the squad, including several veteran leaders who have distanced themselves from the former defender-turned-manager. In fact, as many as six players are reportedly not even on speaking terms with Arbeloa.
The tension reached a boiling point at the Valdebebas training ground this week, where Valverde verbally berated Aurelien Tchouameni without any intervention from the coaching staff. The incident escalated into a physical fight, highlighting a lack of authority that has frustrated the club's board. President Florentino Perez has already been forced to step in to mediate player conflicts and handle disciplinary measures—a sign that the manager's grip on the squad has slipped.
Arbeloa's conflicts extend beyond the training pitch. He has had dressing room disputes with club captain Dani Carvajal, as well as stars like Dani Ceballos, Raul Asencio, and Alvaro Carreras. With the team preparing for Sunday's high-pressure El Clasico against Barcelona, the internal divide could not come at a worse time.
For fans and observers, this is a familiar story at a club where harmony is often the key to success. The lack of a unified front between manager and players has left Real Madrid in a precarious position, and the belief is growing that Arbeloa's tenure is nearing its end. As the squad struggles to find common ground, one thing is clear: the dressing room divide is a problem that won't be solved by tactics alone.
