Real Madrid, Fulham and Benfica in manager trade triangle

Jose Mourinho to Real Madrid. Marco Silva to Benfica. Alvaro Arbeloa to Fulham?

It may be one of the more unlikely managerial triangles but it looks set to be completed with Arbeloa nearing a move to west London.

But how did it come about? It began, as it so often does, at the top of the chain.

Recently re-elected Real Madrid president Florentino Perez decided to bring Jose Mourinho back to the Santiago Bernabeu from Benfica.

That left Benfica searching for a manager and interim boss Alvaro Arbeloa without a role.

Marco Silva's future had already been in doubt after being shortlisted by Chelsea. As a host of managerial vacancies opened up across Europe, he subsequently emerged as the primary target for the Portuguese club.

Benfica secured their man despite Fulham offering a record contract to keep their manager of five years, with super-agent Jorge Mendes brokering deals for both moves.

That leaves Arbeloa.
Represented by Best of You agent Oscar Ribot, the former Liverpool defender is now in advanced talks to join the Cottagers.

It highlights how Mendes, 60, has become a specialist in high-profile managerial appointments.

The Portuguese has also been involved in Enzo Maresca's imminent move to Manchester City, while also working with Vitor Pereira, Unai Emery and Nuno Espirito Santo in the Premier League and Championship.

This week another Mendes client was in the news. Cesar Peixoto, manager of Gil Vicente in Portugal, is set to take over from Rob Edwards as Wolves manager. Mendes' Gestifute agency has a close relationship with the Molineux club's owners Fosun.

More broadly, 10 Premier League clubs will begin next season with new managers, or managers appointed towards the end of last season (Bournemouth, Chelsea, Crystal Palace, Fulham, Ipswich, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Nottingham Forest and Tottenham), demonstrating a chaotic period in the top flight.

• Side plot: Arbeloa faces Alonso

Arbeloa is best known in England for his impressive two-year spell at Liverpool as a player before returning to Real Madrid for a seven-year stint and ending his career with a single season at West Ham.

He earned 56 caps for Spain and was part of arguably the greatest team in their history, which won two European Championships and the World Cup in consecutive tournaments between 2008 and 2012.

Alonso and Arbeloa played together for seven consecutive years at club level and even longer with the national team.

Mourinho signed the pair from Liverpool in the same summer both Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaka joined Real to help them compete with a dominant Barcelona side managed by Pep Guardiola.

Such was the closeness of the two that they went on holiday and spent time together away from the pitch. One well-placed source in Spain said that one replacing the other in January was initially awkward.

Alonso had struggled to convince dressing-room stars such as Kylian Mbappe to adapt to his modern style of management, involving high pressing and possession-based football, at Madrid.

Arbeloa, who began his coaching career at under-14s level, was promoted to steady the ship after six months leading Castilla, Real Madrid's reserve team, who play in the third tier of Spanish football.

Madrid's season ended with a second-place finish in the domestic league and elimination from the Champions League at the quarter-final stage.

Now Alonso and Arbeloa are set to be neighbouring managers in their first seasons in the Premier League - Alonso at Chelsea and Arbeloa at Fulham, with just over a mile separating Stamford Bridge and Craven Cottage. It feels as though their careers are intertwined.

Image source: Getty Images
Image caption: Arbeloa and Alonso played together for Spain during the nation's golden period