Alvaro Arbeloa says Real Madrid remains central to his Fulham journey

Alvaro Arbeloa says his long association with Real Madrid has been fundamental to his career and insists he will always remain grateful to the Spanish club, despite now beginning a new chapter as Fulham manager.

Speaking to DAZN in comments published by AS, Arbeloa described his time coaching Real Madrid as “an enormous and great learning experience”.

“I wish things had gone better, for the club and the fans, but things happened as they happened,” he said. “I will always be grateful to Real Madrid. I am a Real Madrid fan and I always will be. Especially now, because I also have a friend on the bench leading the team.”

Arbeloa added that Real Madrid remained the defining club of his life and said he would continue to follow all of the team’s matches.

“Real Madrid is the club of my life. I will watch all their games. I am here because of Real Madrid,” he said. “I have been connected to this club for more than 20 years, and that is something I will always carry inside me.”

The former Real Madrid player said Fulham’s sporting project and the enthusiasm shown by the club’s owners were the main reasons he chose to move to the Premier League.

“What convinced me to come to Fulham was the project the club presented to me, and the passion the owners showed me,” Arbeloa said.

He also outlined the aggressive style he wants his side to adopt, particularly when they lose possession.

“I want us to be an extremely aggressive team when we do not have the ball or when we lose it,” he said. “This is very important and requires a great deal at every level: physically, mentally and collectively.”

Arbeloa believes the entire squad must commit to that approach, acknowledging that defending high up the pitch brings significant risks.

“The players must fully embrace this, because the risks you take when you defend forward are considerable,” he said. “But this is the style I want to see from my team.”

The Fulham manager also praised the influence of Spanish coaches working in English football, highlighting the different approaches and careers among them.

“All the Spanish managers have their own style,” Arbeloa said. “Some of them have extensive careers, such as Guardiola or Emery. Iraola has been here for three years, Xabi has come to Chelsea, and Arteta is winning games.”

“I am happy to see all of them succeeding and to learn from them, because they are all very great managers,” he added.

Arbeloa was also asked about two young players, Gonzalo and Palacios, whom he believes possess the qualities he values most in emerging talent.

“I like players who want to learn and work, and who demand a lot from themselves,” he said. “Gonzalo and Palacios are players with enormous talent, and they share that character, self-discipline and ambition that I want from young players like them.”