Alvaro Arbeloa played down any issue with Kylian Mbappé’s Instagram activity after the Real Madrid forward liked a post calling for Jose Mourinho to return to the Bernabeu as manager next season.
The like came before Real Madrid’s match against Betis, but Arbeloa said in his pre-match availability that he was not treating it as a concern inside the club. He said he does not spend time on such matters and added that it would not bother him if Mbappé liked a post about Mourinho, Julia Roberts or anyone else.
For Arbeloa, the point was simple: the Instagram like carried no weight in his preparation for the team. His answer kept the focus on Real Madrid’s immediate work rather than on speculation around Mourinho or the manager’s job.
Arbeloa, 43, is a World Cup-winning defender with Spain and a former Real and West Ham player. He took charge of Los Blancos after Xabi Alonso was fired, stepping into a difficult season for a club already under pressure.
Real Madrid are out of the Copa del Rey and Champions League and are behind Barcelona in La Liga. The club is on course for a second straight trophy-less season, something it has not experienced since 2009 and 2010.
Asked about his own future beyond this season, Arbeloa declined to turn the discussion toward himself. He said his responsibility is to win every game and to make sure the players are professional and respectful of the badge.
Arbeloa also said he does not see his role as motivating Real Madrid players, because they already hold themselves to high standards. His job, he said, is to prepare them for what they will face on the pitch.
Mbappé, 27, remains central to that work. The France forward scored in Real Madrid’s 2-1 win over Alaves and has 41 goals in all competitions this season, including 24 in 27 Liga appearances.