Welcome to the latest edition of Inside Real Madrid, our weekly series to follow throughout La Liga’s 2025-26 season.
Each week, we will bring you key information and analysis on the biggest talking points, cutting through the noisy world of all things Madridista with reporting you can trust.
The information contained in this article reflects multiple conversations with various sources at Madrid, all of whom spoke anonymously to protect relationships.
What’s the biggest talking point at Real Madrid right now?
At the beginning of last week, there were signs of Real Madrid beginning to turn the page under Alvaro Arbeloa, following three consecutive wins.
Now, after an extremely turbulent past seven days, the Bernabeu is back in crisis mode.
Wednesday’s dramatic and damaging 4-2 defeat at Benfica in the Champions League meant the team really needed to produce a positive performance at home to Rayo Vallecano in La Liga on Sunday. Instead, the players were again jeered by home fans in a disjointed display only salvaged by Kylian Mbappe’s stoppage-time penalty.
Madrid are still just one point behind Barcelona — and they can progress to the Champions League last 16 if they defeat Benfica over a two-legged play-off — but the mood around the team is again at a critical point.
It has created an environment of uncertainty around Arbeloa’s position. The 43-year-old was only appointed as Xabi Alonso’s replacement on January 12, but rumours and media reports continued to link other names to the Madrid manager’s job last week.
Madrid have never confirmed the exact status of Arbeloa’s position — although reports have suggested he has a contract until the end of next season. On Sunday, a senior source at Madrid said it was “too early” to think about replacing him and the club was “fully committed” to Arbeloa.
Several sources close to the players say Arbeloa understands the idiosyncrasies and dynamics of the dressing room and the club better than Alonso did.
Meanwhile, Arbeloa himself addressed the speculation in his post-match press conference, saying: “You are lucky to have a manager who doesn’t need to be told what Real Madrid is all about.”
What was the atmosphere like at the Bernabeu?
Tense.
Against Levante two weeks ago — Arbeloa’s first home match after replacing Xabi Alonso — there were loud whistles against the players and chants calling for president Florentino Perez to resign. On Sunday, they were just as loud.
The boos started during the warm-up, when the stadium’s public address system seemed to have been turned up in volume to try to drown it out. Once again, Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham were targeted in particular.
Just before kick-off, when the stadium announcements finally stopped, you could really take in the noise.
The discontent continued during the game’s opening moments, and was especially noticeable every time Vinicius Jr touched the ball — but the Brazilian scored such an extraordinary goal in the 15th minute that it calmed things down. In his celebration, he asked for the fans’ support and kissed the Madrid badge on his shirt.
Vinicius Jr celebrating his goal (Pedro Castillo/Real Madrid via Getty Images)
Before half-time, Madrid’s intensity dropped again and the whistles could be heard once more. After Jorge de Frutos equalised in the 49th minute, Thibaut Courtois made a great save to stop Rayo taking the lead. At that point, the whistles grew in intensity again. When Dean Huijsen and Franco Mastantuono were substituted, they too were on the receiving end.
Even Madrid’s Grada Fans section — the official supporters’ group backed by the club, whose members dress in white behind one goal — joined in the criticism, which is an unusual occurrence at the Bernabeu. They chanted: “Madrid, show some balls!”
After the match, one source close to Madrid’s players told The Athletic that they did not understand the lack of support, and that they would like fans to be with them not only in the positive moments. Others said the players did not care about the reception, insisting they were focused only on performing to their best.
“I respect the Bernabeu crowd and I will always ask for their support,” Arbeloa said in his post-match press conference. Before that, he defended the crowd’s behaviour on Real Madrid TV, saying: “We were pushed on by the Bernabeu, which helped us to win a difficult match.”
What’s Real Madrid’s plan without Bellingham?
Bellingham suffered a hamstring injury in the ninth minute of Sunday’s game and his absence will be a blow. The Englishman left the pitch visibly upset, accompanied by Madrid’s medical team.
The club fears he could be out for a month. This means he could miss the crucial Champions League tie against Benfica and La Liga matches against Valencia, Real Sociedad, Osasuna and Getafe.
After the game, DAZN footage revealed that Bellingham had been touching the same area of his left leg before the match began. In his press conference, Arebloa said: “Jude was in perfect condition to play. And after great efforts. It’s a very important loss.”
Bellingham is expected to be out for about a month (Thomas Coex/AFP via Getty Images)
Brahim Diaz came on for Bellingham and is a clear replacement. An alternative is for Arda Guler to fill his role. Both already covered for him when he was out for the first five games of the season, while recovering from surgery on his left shoulder.
Throughout the winter transfer window, sources at Madrid have emphasised their confidence in the squad, saying no immediate signings were being considered. There is no indication that Bellingham’s injury has changed that.
On the departures front, however, the situation is a little different.
What’s going on with Fran Garcia?
Garcia was an unused substitute in Sunday’s game. In the days leading up to it, he came close to leaving Madrid.
The 26-year-old was the subject of interest from Bournemouth, managed by Iraola, who worked with Garcia at Rayo over three seasons between 2020 and 2023.
Sources on the player’s side confirmed to The Athletic that they were expecting to join the Premier League club on loan for the rest of the season. At the training ground, Garcia reflected that to staff and team-mates. However, Madrid ultimately decided not to go through with the deal. These same sources said the decision left a feeling of disappointment.
Garcia has always been praised by coaches and fellow players for his work ethic and sense of teamwork, but at the moment, he seems to be fourth choice for the left-back spot, after Alvaro Carreras, Ferland Mendy and Eduardo Camavinga, who started there on Sunday.
Carreras was also an unused substitute against Rayo. Sources close to the player said he had no physical issue and that Arbeloa’s decision to select Camavinga instead was a “technical” one. Sources close to Camavinga, meanwhile, said the player still sees himself as a midfielder first and foremost.