Arbeloa Leaves Bellingham and Courtois Out for Copa del Rey Test
Alvaro Arbeloa began his reign as Real Madrid manager with an immediate statement, naming a Copa del Rey squad that excludes Jude Bellingham and Thibaut Courtois for the round of 16 trip to Albacete. With Kylian Mbappe already sidelined through injury, the new head coach has leaned heavily on the club’s academy to compensate for a severely depleted first team.
The headline decision arrived with the squad announcement itself. Arbeloa, appointed after the dismissal of Xabi Alonso, confirmed his first selection by resting several established stars while promoting five players from La Fabrica. The move underlined both the scale of Madrid’s injury problems and the direction the former full back intends to take in his early days on the job.
Beyond the absence of Bellingham and Courtois, Aurelien Tchouameni and Alvaro Carreras were also left in Madrid. In a knockout competition where margin for error is minimal, Arbeloa chose to protect his remaining senior options rather than risk them against Segunda Division opposition. It was a calculated decision that immediately set the tone for his tenure.
Context makes the call easier to understand, if no less striking. Real Madrid’s treatment room is crowded following a demanding run of fixtures. Mbappe is unavailable after the Spanish Super Cup final, while Rodrygo, Antonio Rudiger, Eder Militao, Trent Alexander Arnold and Ferland Mendy are also injured. Arbeloa is hopeful several of those names will return in the coming weeks, but for now his priority is managing workload and stability.
The setting adds another layer to the narrative. The visit to Albacete represents Arbeloa’s first competitive test as a senior coach, away from home and under immediate scrutiny. Training sessions earlier in the week hinted at his intentions, with several academy players integrated alongside senior figures as preparations began.
Key decisions followed in the squad balance. Five youth players were included, with Joan Martinez, David Jimenez, Manuel Angel, Cesar Palacios and Jorge Cestero all earning call ups. Fran Gonzalez and Sergio Mestre, already familiar faces in matchday squads this season, were also retained. Arbeloa’s familiarity with the academy has allowed him to move decisively, trusting players he has worked with closely.
There were no goals to describe yet, but the symbolic moments were clear. Leaving Bellingham and Courtois behind while elevating multiple teenagers is a firm endorsement of the club’s development pathway. For players such as Palacios and Manuel Angel, the opportunity arrives in a competitive fixture with genuine stakes.
The second half of Arbeloa’s planning focuses on structure and responsibility. Andriy Lunin is confirmed to start in goal, providing experience behind a defence that includes David Alaba, Raul Asencio, Dean Huijsen, Dani Carvajal and Fran Garcia. In midfield, first team options are limited and supported by B team players, while the attack is expected to rely on Vinicius Junior alongside Gonzalo and Franco Mastantuono.
Late uncertainty surrounds the final lineup choices, particularly in defence and midfield, where Arbeloa must decide how far to extend his rotation. Introducing academy players from the start would reinforce his message, but the pressure of a knockout tie demands control and discipline.
The night in Albacete will ultimately be judged by progression rather than performance. For Arbeloa, the immediate task is to keep Real Madrid alive in the Copa del Rey while navigating an injury crisis and setting cultural expectations. This first squad selection makes it clear that youth, trust, and long term thinking will define the early phase of his reign.