Former Real Madrid emerges as a candidate to replace Alvaro Arbeloa – report | OneFootball

Real Madrid’s elimination from the UEFA Champions League last night likely implies that the club will go trophyless this season. After all, they are too far behind in La Liga and only a miracle can see them overturn that deficit.

With the team set to go trophy-less for the second campaign in a row, Florentino Perez and Co. will look to introduce radical changes from the very core of the current project.

Part of that revolution will begin by replacing big names in the team, especially in positions that seem to lack the required quality and depth. An equally important factor, however, is the decision over the managerial situation.

An familiar face

As reported earlier today, Real Madrid are looking to replace Alvaro Arbeloa at the end of the season and are looking for an experienced option who can keep the dressing room in check and give the project the right direction.

El Mundo now brings to light that Los Blancos have a familiar name on the radar as one of the experienced options, and it is none other than Jose Mourinho.

Mourinho to replace Arbeloa? (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

The Portuguese coach’s name arises as a rather surprising one, especially given how the club appeared strictly against his recruitment just months ago.

Indeed, the Portuguese coach fell off the Merengues’ wishlist with his comments after Real Madrid’s game against Benfica when Gianluca Prestianni racially abused Vinicius Jr. on the field.

At the time, Mourinho openly supported Prestianni and called out Vinicius Jr. for his celebration – a stance that did not go down well with the Real Madrid hierarchy.

Now, however, they seem to have taken a U-turn on that decision as they again open the doors for a Mourinho return, although it remains to be seen if the dressing room get along well with him after the fiasco earlier this season.

Didier Deschamps, Lionel Scaloni, Jurgen Klopp, Zinedine Zidane and Mauricio Pochettino are the other options on their radar as matters stand.