Álvaro Arbeloa has lived the dream of every youth academy player. After six seasons with the club, the Real Madrid defender has featured in 200 games with the team that watched him grow as a player. He expressed his feelings to Realmadrid.com and Realmadrid TV with pride and emotion: “For a youth academy player like me to have played 200 games for Real Madrid is unimaginable and it is something I am very proud of. I came here as a boy and now I am a man with 200 matches to his name”.



“I want to be part of this club for as long as I can. This is home for me. This is the club of my heart and hopefully I have many years ahead here. I have two left as it stands, but it would be an honour to see out my career with Real Madrid. I know that is a very difficult task because of how highly demanding this club is, but that is not a problem for me. I will always put in the effort and make sacrifices on a daily basis in order to win titles.



The Santiago Bernabéu

“This is one of the few grounds there are that amazes you when it's empty. It is special, but the Champions League nights are even more amazing. Imagine what it is like at full capacity when you are playing a Champions League semi-final with the crowd going wild. The connection we have with the supporters nowadays is special and Champions League nights are always a pleasure for us as we get to relive that feeling. It is emotional for me because I went to the Bernabéu as a fan before I became a player. I watched the matches from the fourth tier and now later in life I am at the centre of things”.