The tension is palpable at Valdebebas. With El Clásico against Barcelona just days away, Real Madrid’s season is teetering on the brink. For Álvaro Arbeloa’s side, Sunday’s showdown at the Spotify Camp Nou isn’t just another match—it’s a last-ditch effort to salvage a campaign that has been anything but glorious. But as the clock ticks down, the real drama isn’t on the pitch; it’s in the dressing room.

Earlier this week, reports surfaced of a heated exchange between defenders Álvaro Carreras and Antonio Rüdiger. Then, on Wednesday, midfielders Aurélien Tchouaméni and Fede Valverde reportedly came to blows in a separate physical altercation. These aren’t isolated incidents—they’re symptoms of a deeper rift.

According to Marca, as many as six players have now cut all communication with their manager. While their names remain officially under wraps, the cracks are easy to spot. In recent weeks, Arbeloa has clashed with several Spanish stars, including club captain Dani Carvajal, Raúl Asencio, and Dani Ceballos—the latter reportedly ruled out for the rest of the season after a falling-out with the boss.

Carreras, too, is on thin ice. Arbeloa has questioned the former Manchester United and Benfica defender’s “bad attitude,” and his decision to leave Carreras on the bench during Sunday’s win over Espanyol—even with Ferland Mendy injured—spoke volumes. Whether Arbeloa’s tough stance is justified or not, one thing is clear: the divide is growing, and it’s not sitting well with president Florentino Pérez.

With the dressing room fractured and results underwhelming, the writing may be on the wall for Arbeloa. A summer change in management feels increasingly inevitable—but first, there’s a Clásico to play.