Real Madrid players reportedly use harsh nickname for manager Álvaro Arbeloa
- Real Madrid players reportedly nickname manager Álvaro Arbeloa 'cone' amid rising tensions
- Recent clashes highlight a divided dressing room, with six players refusing to speak to Arbeloa
- Valverde’s hospitalisation from a training incident intensifies scrutiny of Arbeloa's coaching methods
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Recent clashes highlight a divided dressing room, with six players refusing to speak to Arbeloa
Valverde’s hospitalisation from a training incident intensifies scrutiny of Arbeloa's coaching methods
Real Madrid players have reportedly started using a harsh nickname when referring to manager Álvaro Arbeloa.
Arbeloa was promoted to head coach in January following the unexpected departure of Xabi Alonso. Before that, the former Madrid full-back had been in charge of Castilla, the club’s reserve side.
His spell in the Santiago Bernabéu dugout has been difficult, with reports suggesting a divided dressing room filled with star players holding different views.
The situation reportedly escalated on Thursday when midfielders Federico Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni were involved in a physical altercation.
Valverde was taken to hospital after suffering a cut that was later diagnosed as cranioencephalic trauma, with reports suggesting the injury could keep him out for up to two weeks.
Since the incident became public, scrutiny has intensified around the club’s internal culture and Arbeloa’s authority as head coach. Spanish radio show Radioestadio Noche also made critical comments about his management style.
It has been reported that some players on the bench refer to Arbeloa as “cone” during matches — an insult in Spanish football.
This comes amid claims that six players are refusing to speak to the 43-year-old during training sessions.
The Valverde–Tchouaméni incident is also not isolated. Former Chelsea FC defender Antonio Rüdiger was allegedly involved in an incident where he slapped full-back Álvaro Carreras, although Carreras later released a statement on Instagram downplaying the severity of the situation.
The origin of Arbeloa’s “cone” nickname reportedly dates back to his playing career.
During his seven-year spell at Real Madrid, Arbeloa won one La Liga title and two UEFA Champions League trophies, despite not being considered a superstar.
His defensive reliability and limited attacking involvement frustrated sections of the fanbase, who saw him as overly cautious.
As a result, some supporters began calling him a “cone,” labelling him predictable and easy for opponents to bypass.
In some cases, toy cones were even thrown onto the pitch during his matches, while social media later amplified the joke with images of Arbeloa edited onto cones becoming widely shared.
Source: YEN.com.gh
