Real Madrid first-team doctor resigns ahead of new season | OneFootball

Real Madrid have gone through a summer of change, starting from the manager to new signings. And the trend has shown no signs of slowing down.

According to ESPN journalist Rodra P, Manuel Arroyo, Real Madrid’s first-team doctor, has resigned from his position at the club.

This marks yet another significant departure of a key club member following the arrival of Jose Mourinho as the new head coach.

What was Arroyo’s standing at Real Madrid?

The highly regarded doctor was brought in from Granada in the summer of 2025 as one of the headline appointments in a complete reorganisation of Real Madrid’s medical department.

Mourinho is ringing in the changes, even in Real Madrid staff. (Photo by Carlos Rodrigues/Getty Images)

That overhaul was a direct response to one of the most injury-ravaged seasons in the club’s recent history, with Real Madrid having suffered more than 50 injuries during the 2024-25 campaign.

The defensive unit was hit especially hard, with Antonio Rudiger, Ferland Mendy, David Alaba and Dani Carvajal all enduring serious setbacks.

Arroyo was hired specifically to raise the level of medical expertise at the club and to help establish a new philosophy centred on injury prevention and consistent physical performance.

More change at the Bernabeu

Injuries are a key concern for Mourinho at Real Madrid. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)

As reported throughout the summer, one of Mourinho’s primary concerns upon arriving at the club was the persistent injury problem that plagued Real Madrid across the past two seasons.

The Portuguese coach had already identified the squad’s physical conditioning as a structural issue he was determined to address, proposing a more specialised pre-season and greater squad rotation.

Arroyo’s resignation fits the wider pattern of Real Madrid’s summer, which has already seen a new manager appointed, multiple high-profile signings completed and significant changes to the coaching staff.

After two campaigns defined in part by fitness problems, it will be interesting to see how Real Madrid hire as a direct replacement for Arroyo, as the club look to fix the injury woes that have plagued the team’s performances in recent years.