Alvaro Arbeloa responds to Real Madrid dressing room leaks and ‘lies’ ahead of El Clasico against Barcelona - 'I don't work for the CIA'

React to this story

Alvaro Arbeloa has spoken after La Liga giants Real Madrid have endured a rough week in the build up to their El Clasico showdown with Barcelona on Sunday night.

Madrid face 'massive conundrum' around Mbappe, Vinicius and Bellingham

Video credit: TNT Sports

Los Blancos make the trip to Spotify Camp Nou, 11 points behind their fierce rivals with four games left to play.

Barcelona only need to avoid defeat to Real Madrid in order to successfully defend their crown and win La Liga for the 29th time in their history.

And the capital side's preparation for their trip to Barcelona has been plagued by infighting between Federico Valverde and Aurelien Tchouameni.

Transfers

Arsenal push to secure Guimaraes and Vinicius deals - Paper Round

2 hours ago

The midfield pair first clashed in training on Wednesday, and the feud continued into Thursday on the training pitch before a dressing room confrontation.

Valverde ended up being taken to hospital for stitches after hitting the corner of a table, though both players have denied reports that the former punched the latter.

The pair have since been hit with €500,000 fines as a result of the clashes at Valdebebas.

Anfield 'would light up' with Alonso appointment - Cole

Video credit: TNT Sports

Head coach Arbeloa, who took over as Real Madrid coach in January following Xabi Alonso's exit, has since launched an emotional defence of the two players following their recent bust-up.

"The two players have expressed regret, they've admitted their mistakes, they've accepted the consequences, and they've apologised," Arbeloa said on Saturday in the lead up to El Clasico.

"That's enough for me. I won't burn my players at the stake. They don't deserve it, neither of them."

Arbeloa also played down the quarrel, referring to the time Craig Bellamy struck Jon Arne Riise while the pair, and Arbeloa, played for Liverpool.

"I had a team-mate who picked up a golf club and hit another player," said Arbeloa. "They're situations that shouldn't happen between team-mates, but they've always happened.

"I'm not justifying it, but I've experienced even worse situations than this.

"We had the really bad luck that it ended with Fede getting a cut, but that's more to do with bad luck than with what really happened. I think it's an issue we have to move on from."

Real squabbles 'surprised' Flick

Barcelona boss Hansi Flick admitted he was "surprised" by the Real Madrid dressing room revelations, but added that "these things happen".

Flick was asked about the topic ahead of El Clasico, replying: "These things can happen. It happens around the world.

"It’s not only Real Madrid. Was I surprised? Maybe a little bit. I was a little bit surprised, but these things happen all over the world, not just at Real Madrid. But I don’t want to talk about it, it’s not my team, it’s not my club."

'We have to make the right decisions' - Flick says Barca need to be smart in transfer market

Video credit: SNTV

The German revealed that there are incidents in the Barcelona dressing room, continuing: "I will not say that this never happens in our dressing room.

"It’s normal, we are human, we make mistakes, and it can happen, but it’s important how we react to it. I’m happy with my team. I always try to listen, to explain to players. We have really good communication, and this is important in our work."

Valverde, meanwhile, said that the situation "pains and saddens" him in a statement following Thursday's clash, stating: "I’m sorry.

"I’m truly sorry, because the situation hurts me, the moment we are going through hurts me. Madrid is one of the most important things in my life, and I can’t stay indifferent."

Arbeloa rejects 'totally false' claims

According to ESPN, Arbeloa has endured a fair few disagreements with a number of his players, including Dani Carvajal and Dani Ceballos, while striker Kylian Mbappe was involved in an incident involving another member of staff.

The 43-year-old went on to reject "lies" about his squad management in recent weeks, continuing: "A lot of lies are being said. It's a lie that my players aren't professional.

"It's a complete lie that my players have shown me a lack of respect, not once. It's a lie that players don't play because they have a problem with me, or that their lives don't live up to what a Real Madrid player's should be. That's totally false."

Klopp the name 'that gets Real Madrid fans the most excited'

Video credit: TNT Sports

Arbeloa's comments come after it was reported that defenders Antonio Rudiger and Alvaro Carreras were involved in a separate exchange, with Carreras posting on Instagram that it was a one-off incident which has since been resolved

And Arbeloa refused to be drawn into speculation over where the leaks are coming from, adding: "The most serious thing for me, what hurts me most, is that what happens in the Real Madrid dressing room should stay there.

"If things that happen in the dressing room are leaked, I think it's a betrayal of Real Madrid and what this badge represents.

"I don't work for the CIA or anything like that. I'm not accusing the players, or anybody. There are a lot of people around the Real Madrid first team, I'm not here to point the finger at anyone.

"I try to set an example, and what happens in private conversations between me and my players will always stay there."

Valverde will miss the game against Barcelona owing to a head injury, but with neither player suspended by the club, Tchouameni could yet feature against the Blaugrana.

Add TNT Sports as a preferred source here to enjoy more content like this.

Stream the Premier League, men’s and women’s FA Cups, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Conference League and more live on TNT Sports and HBO Max

Transfers