The Mail is reporting that Newcastle manager Rafa Benitez could make a move for Real Madrid right back Alvaro Arbeloa, who will become a free agent at the end of the month.
This is not the first time we have been linked with the 33 year-old, who Rafa signed for Liverpool back in 2007.
When Rafa became manager of his former club Real Madrid last summer, they were reunited again at the Bernabeu.
Alvaro Arbeloa – 33 year-old Real Madrid defender
The Mail is reporting there have been discussions within St. James’ Park about bringing in the vastly experienced defender, who can play in either full back position.
The Mail is reporting that Rafa wants to bring a new right back into the club – and if that’s correct – it’s probably means he is willing to sell current specialist right-back – Dutch International Daryl Janmaat.
Rafa will need to convince Arbeloa to join him in the second division in England for at least one season, but the 56 times capped Spanish International could also help Rafa to get his points across at the club – and could be a huge asset to the manager.
The experienced defender will be well aware of what Rafa wants from players during games and in training, and maybe Arbeloa sees a career in coaching after his playing days are over.
And the defense would be a mix of both youth and experience.
It would be a smart move by Rafa, especially since the 33 year-old is a free agent, but whether he can persuade him to come to Newcastle – that will be the challenge for Rafa.
Arbeloa played 238 times in total for Real Madrid and 98 times for Liverpool and he’s also hugely experienced player in Europe – and Rafa wants to get Newcastle back into Europe just as soon as he can.
What do you think?
Comments welcome.
43 comments so far
Mister Tuff
Jun 4, 2016 at 8:04 AM
Comment #41Greatest sportsman of all time.
jimmysmith
Jun 4, 2016 at 8:17 AM
Comment #42Norman Mailer’s “The Fight” is a truly fantastic and relatively short account, certainly by his standards, of the “Rumble in the Jungle”, for those who might be a little younger and perhaps less aware of just how great and important a figure Ali was.
The doco “When We Were Kings,” is excellent too, if you can’t get hold of the book.
Tsunki
Jun 4, 2016 at 8:48 AM
Comment #43I remember far back enough to recall the controversy surrounding Cassius Clay changing his name and refusing the draft. America was in full world police mode back then so it took some guts to stand up to their government and their war ambitions.