Jose Mourinho has refused to offer Alvaro Arbeloa any advice as he prepares for an emotional reunion with Real Madrid later this season.
The Fenerbahce boss is set to come up against his former club when his side face Benfica in the Champions League, a tie that will also bring Madrid back into Mourinho’s orbit. Arbeloa, who played under Mourinho at the Santiago Bernabeu, has been in contact ahead of the meeting.
But Mourinho has made it clear he will not be drawn into giving guidance. The Portuguese coach insisted Arbeloa does not need help from him and said he prefers to stay out of those conversations, even when the match-up carries personal meaning.
Mourinho’s stance comes as he gets ready for the latest chapter in his long history with Real Madrid, a club he led between 2010 and 2013 and with whom he won major honours. The upcoming Champions League clash will see him cross paths again with familiar faces and a fanbase that still remembers his time in charge.
The former Madrid full-back remains a respected figure from that era, but Mourinho’s message was straightforward: Arbeloa can handle his own role without any input from his old manager.
