Former Real Madrid Boss Planning to Raid Club's Academy Players

In January of this year, Real Madrid Castilla manager Alvaro Arbeloa took over the first team for the rest of the season after the departure of his former long term team mate Xabi Alonso. 

Although the team were not able to win either La Liga or the UEFA Champions League, little if any blame was directed towards Arbeloa, with many saying he had set the team up well in the quarter-final tie with Bayern Munich, with individual mistakes at both ends of the pitch letting the team down. 

Nevertheless, the club politely moved on to bring in the 43-year old's former manager at Los Blancos, Jose Mourinho, 13 years after he departed the Spanish capital. It was clear, however, that Arbeloa departed with the club's best wishes. 

Whilst we are, for whatever reason, still waiting for official confirmation, by all intents and purposes, the former right-back will be the new Fulham manager to replace Marco Silva. Perhaps from the 1st of July it will be made official for contractual reasons. 

Ironically, there has basically been a swap between all three clubs. Last season, Arbeloa, Silva and Mourinho all coached Real Madrid, Fulham and Benfica. All three will manage those clubs again next season, but all different sides. Funny old game, isn't it? 

Anyway, according to Spanish media outlet Marca, Arbeloa is keen to bring "several Real Madrid academy talents" to Craven Cottage this summer. Thiago Pitarch, Cesar Palacios, Manuel Angel and Jorge Cestero have been named as "leading candidates" to make the move this summer. 

That would be interesting. Particularly with Pitarch - the young midfielder actually played 16 games for the first team. Now, that would have been because Arbeloa was his manager, but he actually had some good games. Would the club be willing to let him go? The others feel more plausible. 

Nevertheless, it could free up space for a new midfield signing. And as we know, Real Madrid always include certain clauses when they let young talent go, just in case. Nico Paz is a very, very good example of this. 

Well, it would certainly be interesting to see how these young players do in the Premier League if they do make the jump. The scriptwriters have worked overtime on match day one, with Fulham set to take on Alonso's Chelsea on the first weekend of the season. 

What makes it even funnier is that the game will take place on Monday Night Football, of which Jamie Carragher - former Liverpool team mate of both Arbeloa and Alonso - is a part of. Before every MNF game, Carragher, presenter David Jones and the guest star interview both managers. That will be especially fun this time.