Arbeloa shrugs off notion of spat with Mbappe
Alvaro Arbeloa insists there is no breakdown in his relationship with Kylian Mbappe, despite the Frenchman's claims that he is the fourth-choice striker.
Mbappe returned to the Madrid squad against Real Oviedo – having missed the Clasico loss, which saw Barcelona clinch the LaLiga title – and set up Jude Bellingham's goal late on after coming off the bench to jeers.
After the match, Mbappe, who has netted 24 league goals in an injury-hit campaign, sensationally claimed that he was down the pecking order, behind Gonzalo Garcia, Vinicius Junior and Franco Mastantuono.
He also insisted he had no issues with Arbeloa, and the Madrid coach is adamant he did not tell Mbappe that he was the fourth choice.
"I've just bumped into him, I told him to stay calm," Arbeloa said in his pre-match press conference ahead of facing Sevilla.
"I understand that these kinds of things make headlines, but it's something much more normal than you think.
"I used to be a player, I know what they can feel in these situations – playing every day, then playing less or not at all.
"I totally understand that Kylian wasn't happy about not playing on Thursday, and I like that. I wouldn't understand it if he didn't want to play. My relationship with him remains the same."
Madrid got a much-needed return to winning ways in midweek, but faces a Sevilla side that will confirm its LaLiga safety if it gets a fourth win in a row.
Los Blancos have also secured a second-place finish, but the pressure is on Arbeloa after a season without a trophy, with Jose Mourinho reportedly the favourite to replace him ahead of next season.
Arbeloa only took charge in January, replacing Xabi Alonso, but he would be thrilled if Mourinho was the one to succeed him in the dugout.
"For me, as a former [Madrid] player and as a Madridista, Jose Mourinho is number one. He's one of ours," Arbeloa added.
"If he comes back next year, I'll be very happy to see him back home."
