Arbeloa has attempted to play down the drama, insisting that players are free to manage their own time. “In their free time, each player does what they see fit, and I don’t get involved in that,” the coach stated.
He further clarified that “all planning regarding injured players is supervised and managed by Madrid’s medical staff, who are the ones who decide when they need to go to Valdebebas and when they don’t.
Despite the public show of support, reports suggest Arbeloa is privately unhappy with how the hierarchy has handled the situation. The focus now shifts to whether the club’s top scorer will be fit for Sunday’s showdown at the Camp Nou.