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On Saturday, Real Madrid bid farewell to several figures following their final match of the season — a 4-2 home win over Athletic Club. Dani Carvajal and David Alaba made their final appearances for the team and said their goodbyes on the pitch, while head coach Alvaro Arbeloa chose to keep a low profile during the occasion.

Before the clash with Athletic Club, Arbeloa had already confirmed that he would be departing from Real Madrid. The club was unlikely to extend his contract after a trophyless spell since taking over from Xabi Alonso in January, particularly as reports suggested that team morale had deteriorated under his management.

Among the players who had a strained relationship with Arbeloa during his tenure was Kylian Mbappe, who had publicly criticised his coach in media comments. However, it now appears that both have buried the hatchet and parted on amicable terms, as reflected in their recent social media exchanges.

According to Marca, Mbappe shared a message wishing Arbeloa the best for his future in a social media post, to which Arbeloa responded with a gracious note of appreciation.

“Thank you very much, Kylian. I will always be proud to have coached such an extraordinary footballer with unmatched talent. Difficult moments do not last forever, but strong people endure. Here’s to everything that lies ahead.”

While not many Real Madrid players posted farewell messages to Arbeloa, several key members of the squad took the opportunity to express their gratitude and best wishes. Antonio Rudiger, Brahim Diaz, Jude Bellingham, and Vinicius Junior all sent kind messages to their departing manager. Arbeloa replied to each of them, describing Bellingham as “a natural leader, a top professional and a fantastic person,” and telling Vinicius that “it has been an honour to be your coach.”