Arbeloa’s Fulham move: four Real Madrid talents in his sights

Former Real Madrid manager Alvaro Arbeloa is set to be named Fulham’s next head coach and has already identified four players from his former club as targets. Arbeloa, 43, will take charge of the Premier League side following their recent managerial vacancy. He has singled out César Palacios, Manuel Ángel, Thiago Pitarch and Jorge Cestero as players he worked with during his time at Real Madrid’s first team and Castilla.

The quartet were regulars in Real Madrid’s senior squad during the second half of last season, with Pitarch making 16 appearances across all competitions. Arbeloa’s preference for these players reflects his history of trusting La Fabrica graduates, a policy he continued during his brief spell as Real Madrid head coach.

Real Madrid’s recent strategy of selling young talents with buy-back or sell-on clauses has yielded significant financial returns. The club triggered a €9 million clause on Nico Paz before Como immediately secured him for €60 million, generating an instant €51 million profit alongside €6 million from his earlier sale.

Arbeloa’s potential moves could align with Real Madrid’s ongoing efforts to rebalance their squad after signing four new players this summer. The club is prioritising exits to manage the influx of arrivals, with several La Fabrica players expected to leave.

The 43-year-old’s connections at Real Madrid and his track record of promoting youth make these targets a natural fit for his Fulham project. His short tenure as Real Madrid manager saw him regularly integrate academy talents into the first team.