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Alvaro Arbeloa has bid an emotional farewell to the Real Madrid faithful.

The former Liverpool and Spain defender will leave Los Blancos at the end of the season having joined from Anfield in the summer of 2009.

The 33-year-old replaced Cristiano Ronaldo in the closing stages of Sunday 3-2 victory over Valencia to make his bow at the Bernabeu.

At full-time a host of fans stayed behind as Arbeloa was hoisted into the air by his team-mates and a tribute video played out on the stadium screens along with banners from the club’s ultras.

(Image: AFP/Getty)

Arbeloa will now hope to feature in the final La Liga match of the season at Deportivo La Coruna next weekend as Zinedine Zidane’s squad look to snatch the title away from rivals Barcelona.

However the right-back has only featured nine times for Real Madrid this campaign as a peripheral figure.

During his spell at Madrid Arbeloa helped the club clinch the 2012 La Liga title and 2014 Champions League trophy.

The emotions at the Bernabeu follow a gushing open letter about Arbeloa from Jose Mourinho.

(Image: REUTERS/Paul Hanna)

Arbeloa spoke to Spanish paper Marca in an interview to commemorate the end of his time at his boyhood club describing "my admired and beloved Mou” with the former Chelsea boss responding with a glowing open letter.

"Arbeloa is a friend, not just a player for me," it began.

"How does a player turn into a friend? By being an example of passion for his profession, of love for his club, of dedication to the group and their aims, of humility and honour in the relationships he has with everybody he works with on a daily basis.”

Arbeloa confirmed he plans to continue his playing career, but can't imagine the prospect of facing Real Madrid with another Spanish side and will look for a move abroad in the summer.