Alvaro Arbeloa 'happy' if Jose Mourinho replaces him as Real Madrid boss next season

[p]The Portuguese veteran who led [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/real-madrid/W8mj7MDD/"]Madrid[/a] between 2010 and 2013, clashing with Pep Guardiola's [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/barcelona/SKbpVP5K/"]Barcelona[/a] side in that era, has been heavily linked with a return to the Santiago Bernabeu bench.[/p][p]Currently coaching [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/benfica/zBkyuyRI/"]Benfica[/a], selecting the divisive Mourinho would be a gamble on the part of president Florentino Perez after Los Blancos finished without a major trophy for a second consecutive season.[/p][p][b]"For me, as a former (Madrid) player and as a Madridista, Jose Mourinho is number one. He's one of ours,"[/b] Arbeloa told reporters.[/p][p][b]"If he comes back next year, I'll be very happy to see him back home."[/b][/p][embed guid="522e566e-5c43-4dbe-9270-800515131e2e" url="https://x.com/FabrizioRomano/status/2055551070580167035?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]Arbeloa replaced Xabi Alonso in January but was unable to help Madrid salvage anything from a troubled campaign.[/p][p]Star striker [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mbappe-kylian/Wn6E2SED/"]Kylian Mbappe[/a] criticised Arbeloa after being benched in midweek for Madrid's win over [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/real-oviedo/SzYzw34K/"]Real Oviedo[/a].[/p][p]Mbappe returned from a thigh injury that had kept him out of the Clasico last weekend, where Barça beat Madrid to seal their La Liga triumph.[/p][p][b]"I've just bumped into him. I told him to stay calm. I understand that these kinds of things make headlines, but it's something much more normal than you think,"[/b] Arbeloa said.[/p][p][b]"I used to be a player, I know what they can feel in these situations -- playing every day, then playing less or not at all," continued the coach.[/b][/p][p][b]"I totally understand that Kylian wasn't happy about not playing on Thursday, and I like that.[/b][/p][p][b]"I wouldn't understand it if he didn't want to play. My relationship with him remains the same."[/b][/p]