Real Madrid face potential tension due to overcrowding in key position | OneFootball

At Real Madrid, getting players back from injury should ease problems, not create new ones. 

Yet under Alvaro Arbeloa, the club is now staring at a complicated internal challenge that has little to do with fitness and everything to do with balance, hierarchy, and expectation. 

The right-back position, in that regard, has suddenly become one of the most sensitive areas in the squad.

Over the past months, Federico Valverde has established himself as the most reliable option on the right side of defence. 

What began as a short-term solution has gradually turned into a genuine first-choice role.

This situation developed largely because the natural contenders for the position were unavailable. 

At the start of the season, the expectation was that the right-back spot would be contested by Dani Carvajal and Trent Alexander-Arnold. 

However, injuries changed those plans, opening the door for Valverde to step in and prove his value.

Things are changing

Now the landscape has shifted again. 

Carvajal’s return, combined with the full recovery of the Englishman, has left Arbeloa facing a decision that carries consequences beyond the tactical board. 

Who will Arbeloa select? (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

Each option comes with its own drawbacks.

Valverde’s presence at right-back brings stability, but it also removes him from midfield. 

Reintroducing him into central areas is not straightforward either, as it could disturb the current structure. 

Carvajal’s situation is covered with personal stakes. At 34, and coming off a serious knee injury, the veteran knows that regular minutes are vital. 

His experience and status cannot be ignored, yet questions remain over whether he can maintain peak performance over a demanding season.

Then there is TAA

Alexander-Arnold adds another point of argument, as his attacking influence and passing range offer a very different interpretation of the role. However, choosing him may require structural adjustments elsewhere.

With all three available, Arbeloa is entering a classic overbooking scenario. Whoever starts, at least one high-profile player will feel sidelined. 

Managing those reactions may prove more challenging than choosing the line-up itself. 

For Real Madrid, the right-back issue is not about who is fit, but about how to keep the squad united while chasing results.