Former Liverpool defender set to take major step with Real Madrid move

Real Madrid legend Raul is set to vacate his current role at Real Madrid and ex-Liverpool defender Alvaro Arbeloa is reported to have agreed to take succeed the former forward

Former Liverpool defender Alvaro Arbeloa is set to take on a new role at Real Madrid.

The full-back, who also played for Los Blanco, Deportivo La Coruna and West Ham United during his playing career, is said to have agreed to become the coach of Real Madrid Castilla, the club's second team. La Liga legend Raul currently coaches the side but is eyeing a promotion to the first team set-up or to a directorial role for Real's youth sides.

Arbeloa is currently in charge of Real Madrid's Jevenil A side, and will face Liverpool in the UEFA Youth League next month. It is not the first time the 41-year-old has faced familiar opposition as he clashed with Fernando Torres when the ex-Liverpool striker was in charge of Atletico Madrid's youth side.

Marca report that Raul will move on from his position at the end of the season with Arbeloa already selected as his successor. Raul has been in charge of Castilla for more than six years and has received offers from elsewhere but is happy to remain with Les Merengues.

Real Madrid bosses may hope that Arbeloa will not be the only figure with Liverpool experience in the Spanish capital next season. With less than a year on his contract at Anfield, Trent Alexander-Arnold continues to be linked to a move.

Speaking ahead of England's defeat to Greece, the 26-year-old reflected on what the rest of his career could look like. “This was a conversation I had last (England) camp with (Eberechi) Eze when we were going to Ireland,” the Reds star told ITV.

"I said ‘You know, that there’s a chance I may never win another trophy in my career again’. There’s a chance of that. There’s a chance I win many, many more.

"And you’ll only know the morning after you retire. You’ll look at yourself in the mirror and you’ll have a feeling of either regret or satisfaction of what you have achieved."

"But I don’t think you can value that on trophies and medals or goals and assists; anything like that," he added. "It’s more (that) I give it absolutely everything from start to finish and I’ve put everything into it.

"And as long as I can say that I tried to get better every single day, I tried to be the best player I could be for the team and I tried to help the team win as many games as possible, and I believe that I maximised the potential that everyone told me from a very young age that I had, then I’ll be more than satisfied."

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