How Real Madrid coach has turned his back on homegrown first-team players

Arbeloa has completely turned his back on homegrown players. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)

The pattern is difficult to ignore, particularly given the coach’s own history as a product of the same system.

Carvajal has arguably been the worst treated of the four. Having returned from a serious knee injury, the club captain has started just four matches under Arbeloa and completed only two of them.

Now, the Spaniard is on the verge of leaving the Bernabeu, with his contract expiring at the end of the season.

Fran Garcia, meanwhile, has started just five of the 23 matches Arbeloa has overseen, completing only three. Gonzalo has featured in 14 games with six starts but has not completed even 30% of the available minutes.

Asencio’s situation is perhaps the most troubling, as he was repeatedly called upon while carrying an injury; he eventually requested rest to protect his fitness, a decision that did not go down well with the coach.

The one homegrown player Arbeloa has genuinely backed is Thiago Pitarch, who has been given meaningful opportunities and largely justified the faith shown in him.