Alvaro Arbeloa

“I have been shot at so many times that now every time I receive a bullet, it goes through a hole that has already been made” – Alvaro Arbeloa, June 17th 

“I have defended my teammates a lot and the staff. This is something every Real Madrid player should do” – Alvaro Arbeloa, June 5th

In this post, I want to show my appreciation for a player that is not only underrated but goes through a lot to defend the team and many times it goes unnoticed.

The most recent controversy relates to his relationship with Casillas. It is said that Casillas hasn’t talked to Xabi or Arbeloa (outside of what is needed) in months and it seems as if it is true. As childish as this may sound, they both unfollowed each other off of instagram months ago, perhaps 4 months ago. The relationship wasn’t what it was. It has not been until recently that the press has decided to make a big deal out of it. They have asked Del Bosque and Albiol about it. The press’ goal was to blame this all on Mourinho, of course. Today Arbeloa came out to say that it is unfair to put Mourinho in the middle and that he is surprised that with the discretion that both, him and Iker, have dealt with their “split up” things have come to light just now by the press. Why now? Who told them?

Arbeloa has defended himself, he hasn’t hid anything. In the interview prior to today’s on June 5th, he was asked if he had apologized to Casillas yet. Apologized? Yes, a journalist asked him if he had apologized to Casillas. For what?? How do they know what is going on?

A few weeks ago Florentino went on an interview spree. Day after day he was going to different media outlets giving his views on different topics. Surprise, surprise, he got asked about Casillas. This is what Don Floren said, “Casillas is the best, but he has friends in the press that have tried to help him but instead they have damaged him”. And they are continuing to do so, Floren. Casillas has kept his mouth shut for a while, for good or for worse, and the ones doing all the talking are those in the media. It is no mystery that he is dating a reporter and that he has always been good friends with Carmen Colino, Roberto Gomez and other well known reporters in Spain, those who make the covers and make the noise.

Now the media has their backs turned onto Arbeloa. The first thing he was accused of is of being a “Mourinhista”. They said that Arbeloa defended Mourinho too much. Wrong. Arbeloa defends the team he represents. Don’t believe me? Here is a video of Arbeloa publicly defending Pellegrini when he was getting slaughtered by the media.

Try to find others defending Pellegrini. Arbeloa calls himself lucky of being coached by Manuel and called him one of the best of the world and therefore unnecessary to talk about other coaches. THAT is how a player should come out to talk about his coach, regardless of the results.

If you speak Spanish I invite you to read this interview from 2010, during the World Cup when Del Bosque was being criticized by the Spanish media while the WC was taking place. Arbeloa defending him and their style and when compared with Aragonés (former coach) he found a way to talk both of them up. http://futbol.as.com/futbol/2010/06/24/mas_futbol/1277330427_850215.html Long story short, he defended his coaches.

Videos of Arbeloa defending Mourinho? You can find them anywhere, even under your bed and it is because he has been criticized from day 1.

Arbeloa doesn’t stop there. He has other ways to always be the one defending the CLUB. He has ways to show his Madridismo.

Take as a simple example the celebration of the last Liga we won. That little detail of bringing with him the scarf of one of the maximum symbols of Real Madrid. Crack.

Supporting his teammates? Every day. When Cristiano said he was sad, Arbeloa was the very first player to show his support. He did not go against the institution, he did not make a big deal out of it, he simply embraced Cristiano with a simple picture of both of them on his Twitter. Simple, easy way to make a nice point.

“Everybody has the right to be sad, he’s a person just like anyone else. He knows that he’s with the best team and hopefully he’ll stay here until he retires” he later on said.

When Pipita was rumored to leave last year, Arbeloa grabbed the mic and chanted with the Bernabeu… “Pipita quedate…”

To further my point, I think everyone has the clear idea right now that Arbeloa and Casillas are not on the best of terms. He calls their relationship “professional”. Two days ago, Uruguay faced Spain and Casillas was back under the posts in an official game after a while. Suarez scored a golazo on him. What did Arbeloa do? He cheered Casillas up.

http://www.as.com/futbol/video/arbeloa-animo-casillas-gol-luis/20130617dasdasftb_29/Ves

When asked about it today he said that they are teammates and that they have to be together.

Real Madrid has recently signed Carvajal, who plays in his same position. Of course the press was quick to ask him out it, hoping he would take the bite. What did Arbeloa say? He rated the signing of Dani and said that competition should always be welcomed as without it, you may get lazy. He said that competition is good and he welcomed Dani. Furthermore, he admitted that his last season wasn’t his best. Auto-critic and support.

One last thing to point out is his relationship with the fans. Before a special game or an important game, he never hesitates to transmit security and a good vibe. He is the one retweeting a video from Luis or tweeting any other video sharing hope. He has been spotted going out for dinner with some twitter people. He connects with the fans, he listens, he shares, he is one of us, Madridistas.

Arbeloa is a team-player. Arbeloa is a friend. Arbeloa will defend the colors until his last day. Arbeloa has to stand bullshit for the press, bullshit that he wouldn’t have to stand had he not decided to protect his team. He could have sat back and let them do their thing, but he chose not to. Alvaro Arbeloa is the one defending our interests, his teammates, his coaches and his presidents’ regardless of who they are. If you are too blind to see it, then the press has won. Call him a cone, but that cone has won a World Cup, two Euros, a Liga, a Copa, a Supercopa and more to be added…

In front of where the past bullets have made their holes stands all of Madridismo united, protecting you just like you have protected us. Thanks for all, CAP17AN.