"The 'Negreira case' remains unresolved, and nobody understands why"

After news emerged that FC Barcelona distanced themselves from the Superliga, Alvaro Arbeloa tackled the 'Negreira case' during his pre-match press conference ahead of Real Madrid's trip to Mestalla. Before facing Valencia, the coach spoke frankly: "Nobody understands why Spanish football's biggest scandal remains unresolved. That should concern many."

Turning his attention back to his coaching duties, Arbeloa clarified the decision to grant the squad two days of rest. "For me, it's very straightforward," he explained. "Our planning involves organising the week to best prepare the players. You all know how vital Pintus is to us, and nobody questions these plans. In my initial 20 days, the players had two days off. I'm unsure if that strikes you as a lot or a little, but it has been a week with a very heavy workload."

Arbeloa stressed the challenge of Mestalla: "We are acutely aware of the difficulty of tomorrow's game. It's a complicated fixture, both due to the atmosphere and the quality of the Valencia side. We must perform at our absolute best to secure all three points. Valencia always fields a strong team with excellent squads, players, and coaches. As a city, Valencia makes us feel very welcome, thanks to the Real Madrid fans there. However, defeating Real Madrid remains one of the season's biggest challenges for every team."

"Rodrygo knows he made a mistake"

Regarding individual players, Arbeloa singled out Franco Mastantuono. "He's a young lad who arrived at Real Madrid with immense potential and the ability to play wide and beat defenders," he observed. "He possesses power, strong ball-carrying skills, a great work ethic, and injects intensity into the game. Joining Real Madrid is never easy, but you can immediately spot his capabilities. I'm very pleased with his work and dedication."

Brahim Diaz and Fran Garcia also came under discussion. "Brahim possesses the attributes to play centrally, between the lines, and link up," Arbeloa commented. "He's a highly talented player, and his role depends on the demands of the match. He can assist us in various positions and scenarios. As for Fran, he's an exceptional young man, consistently working at 100% every day. As a coach, I particularly love to highlight that. His attitude and mentality consistently set an example; he truly embodies the Real Madrid crest, and for me, having him is a source of immense pride."

Finally, Alvaro Arbeloa addressed Rodrygo Goes, who faces a two-week layoff. "He has already issued a statement of remorse," Arbeloa confirmed. "He knows he made a mistake, and from here, our focus is on getting him back as quickly as possible and in the best condition so he can assist us in the way he knows best."