Fulham appoints former Real manager

Fulham have made a fascinating managerial appointment. After Marco Silva left for Benfica, ending his five-year spell in west London, the Cottagers set out to find his successor. Whether they have chosen the right man remains open to debate, but one thing is certain—they did not cast a particularly wide net. Reports first emerged over a month ago that Fulham were in advanced talks with Alvaro Arbeloa, and from that point onward, no other candidates were seriously linked with the job. There was a lengthy period of silence before the club suddenly made it official: Alvaro Arbeloa is the new Fulham manager.

Arbeloa has undoubtedly benefited from having managed Real Madrid for much of last season after Xabi Alonso was dismissed, even though his spell at the Santiago Bernabeu was far from successful, with the club ending the campaign without a trophy. Still, having "Real Madrid manager" on his resume—regardless of the circumstances—appears to have been enough to secure a Premier League job with Fulham, who enjoyed a respectable season in England's top flight.

One night in August at Craven Cottage will gather two ex-Real Madrid in west London derby

The managerial merry-go-round between Fulham, Benfica, and Real Madrid has been particularly intriguing. Marco Silva left Fulham to take charge of Benfica, replacing Jose Mourinho, who in turn became the new manager of Real Madrid. Arbeloa, previously in charge of Real Madrid Castilla, was promoted to the first team on January 12 following Xabi Alonso's dismissal. Ironically, Alonso has now taken over at Chelsea—Fulham's historic rivals from west London. Arbeloa has signed a contract with Fulham through 2029, the club confirmed on its official website. No sooner had Arbeloa arrived in west London than he reportedly handed Fulham's hierarchy a shortlist of three players he wants signed before preseason begins. According to well-connected journalist Nizaar Kinsella, the Spaniard has requested the arrivals of three Real Madrid players: Fran García, Franco Mastantuono and Gonzalo García.

Arbeloa knows Gonzalo García extremely well, having worked with him both at Castilla and with Real Madrid's first team. He regularly used the 22-year-old striker as an impact substitute—and occasionally as a starter—in La Liga. García rewarded that faith with six goals and one assist in 30 appearances, despite playing only 952 minutes in total—roughly half an hour per match on average. Arbeloa also trusted him in the Champions League, where he recorded an assist against Kairat, while he also found the net in both the Spanish Super Cup and the Copa del Rey. With Jose Mourinho unlikely to rely on the young Spanish international to the same extent, it is hardly surprising that Arbeloa wants to bring him to Craven Cottage. The only question is how much Florentino Perez and Real Madrid will demand. According to Transfermarkt, García is valued at around 30 million euros and still has four years remaining on his contract. However, Arbeloa's relationship with Real could help negotiate a lower fee.

Another player who enjoyed Arbeloa's trust last season was left-back Fran García. Although he was never a regular starter, García featured in 13 La Liga matches and seven Champions League games, often coming off the bench to help protect leads. Following the arrival of Marc Cucurella, García is no longer considered a key part of Jose Mourinho's plans, making him an attractive target for Fulham. With just one year remaining on his contract and an estimated market value of around 10 million euros, Fulham could even attempt to negotiate a package deal for both García players, hoping Real Madrid would offer a discount. But Garcia is also a big transfer target for Real Betis, who is likely to lure him to Sevilla.

After the Madrid chaos, Arbeloa on the verge of a Premier League move

The third—and perhaps biggest—name on Arbeloa's list is attacking midfielder Franco Mastantuono. However, a permanent transfer appears virtually impossible. The 18-year-old Argentine joined Real Madrid from River Plate last year in a deal worth 45 million dollars. Although he struggled to make an immediate impact during his first season in Madrid, he showed flashes of the immense talent that convinced Real to invest so heavily in him. Given his age and potential, the Spanish giants have no intention of selling him. A loan move, however, is a much more realistic possibility. With Mourinho unlikely to give Mastantuono significant playing time immediately, a Premier League loan could benefit everyone involved. Fulham would gain one of South America's brightest young talents for a season, while Real Madrid would allow him to gain valuable experience before returning as a more complete player. For now, Arbeloa is taking the safest possible approach to recruitment: targeting players he already knows, trusts, and understands. Whether Fulham can convince Real Madrid to part with any of them remains to be seen—but as always, negotiating with the Spanish giants is rarely straightforward.

WORLD CUP - KNOCKOUT STAGE

Quarter-finals

Thursday

23.00: (1.60) France (4.00) Morocco (6.20)

Friday

22.00: (1.65) Spain (4.00) Belgium (5.50)

Sunday

00.00: (4.00) Norway (3.70) England (1.90)

04.00: (1.75) Argentina (3.50) Switzerland (5.50)

***odds are subject to change***