Real Madrid boss Alvaro Arbeloa said he would be “very happy” to see Jose Mourinho “back home” if he did return to the club.
Reports this week have suggested that the Portuguese is close to agreeing a second spell as head coach.
Mourinho has been in charge of Benfica since 2025 and previously managed Real between 2010 and 2013, winning the La Liga title in 2012 and Copa del Rey the season before.
Arbeloa took over from Xabi Alonso in January and a turbulent season has seen Madrid knocked out of the Champions League at the quarter-final stage, as well as having numerous issues to contend with among the playing squad.
Real’s Spanish title hopes ended last weekend with defeat to Barcelona, who were confirmed as champions, and although they bounced back with a win over Oviedo on Thursday, Los Blancos have still only recorded three wins in their last nine games dating back to the start of April.
Asked if Mourinho is the solution to Real’s dressing-room infighting, Arbeloa told a news conference on Saturday: “I don’t really understand the idea of an unmanageable dressing room, or at least I don’t share it.
“It’s not something that defines the Real Madrid dressing room. The day the club makes a decision regarding next season’s coach is something they will announce when they see fit.
“Regarding Mourinho, I think I’ve been very clear throughout my life about what I think of him.
“For me, as his player, but above all as a Madridista, I feel and believe he is number one.
“A colleague of yours asked me a few days ago if I still think what I said when we faced him in the Champions League, and I will continue to think that Jose has been, is, and will always be uno di noi (one of us).
“If he is the one here next season, I will be very happy to see him back home.”
Real’s next game on Sunday is a trip to Sevilla, who have eased their relegation fears after securing three successive league wins to move four points away from the drop zone.
Akor Adams found the winner in Wednesday’s 3-2 triumph over Villarreal to take his tally to 10 league goals and Sevilla head coach Luis Garcia Plaza admitted his side are still in “survival mode.”
“They have some of the best players in the world and even when you’re doing well, one player can beat you on his own,” he told a pre-match press conference.
“We have to remember that they are still in it, despite the season not going the way they wanted.
“If we don’t play well, we will lose. It takes us a huge effort to beat anyone.
“Hopefully we can make it four in a row and achieve the objective. The match has all the parts, but we are still in the same survival mode we’ve been in.”
