London, 14 January 2026 (dpa/MIA) - New Real Madrid manager Alvaro Arbeloa remains “very close” with Xabi Alonso and is not worried about being undermined by the players as he starts his own tenure.

Former Bayer Leverkusen boss Alonso was dismissed on Monday, seven months into his tenure at the Bernabeu with the club trailing Barcelona by four points at the top of the LaLiga table.

The final straw in a mixed season so far was defeat by Barca in the Supercopa de Espana final on Sunday in Jeddah.

“After I found out the decision of the club and Xabi to reach a mutual agreement to part ways, you all know the relationship I have with Xabi, which is very close,” said Arbeloa. “Of course I spoke with him afterwards.

“Obviously what I discussed with Xabi will remain between us. I have a lot of enthusiasm to start my first game, when we will play with everything on the line.

“I’m excited to have a squad of a lot of quality on my hands. And a lot of excitement. Nothing got in the way of our relationship in any way. He wished me all the best, just as I would wish him the same.

“We have a friendship that transcends everything. He wished me all the best. He’s going to do very well, and we’ll always be together.”

Real play second-tier side Albacete in the Copa del Rey on Wednesday in what will be Arbeloa’s first match in charge.

He indicated that, having been associated with the club in a number of different capacities since 2001, he planned to remain in charge for as long as Real wanted.

“I’ve been here 20 years at my home,” he said. “I can tell you that I’ll be here until Real Madrid tell me to go. I feel it is my home, and that’s the way I see it.”

Asked how he planned to handle some of the squad’s bigger names – some of whom appeared to undermine Alonso’s authority during his time in charge – Arbeloa said: “It’s not something that worries me too much.

“We have a squad with great players, and they’re all really good guys. No one is more interested in winning titles than the players themselves.

“I’ve told them that the best time of my life was playing for Real Madrid, and they have to enjoy it. They’re demanding of themselves. It’s been a good first impression.”

Photo: EPA