Recent events have shaken Real Madrid, with reports of significant internal conflict. Following an alleged physical altercation between Fede Valverde and Aurelien Tchouameni, the club has launched an investigation. This incident appears to be the peak of mounting tensions within the squad, as earlier in the week, it was revealed that Alvaro Carreras and Antonio Rudiger were also involved in a physical dispute. Furthermore, whispers suggest a rift between Dani Carvajal, Dani Ceballos, Raul Asencio, and manager Alvaro Arbeloa.
Real Madrid players refer to Arbeloa as ‘cone’
According to Onda Cero, the relationship between Arbeloa and his players has been deteriorating for some time. Arbeloa’s absence during the Tchouameni and Valverde confrontation highlights a loss of respect from many in the dressing room. There are accounts of Carreras being seen laughing at Arbeloa’s decision to field Fran Garcia over him in a match against Espanyol.
Onda Cero further reports that several Real Madrid players have begun calling Arbeloa ‘cone’. During matches, multiple players have been observed subtly insulting Arbeloa, often with their hands over their mouths, questioning his strategic choices. Those on the bench have also reportedly used this moniker.
Arbeloa, through his staff, has been made aware of these taunts, and it is understood that some players have faced consequences, including being dropped from the squad. Notably, both Ceballos and Asencio have been excluded from recent Real Madrid squads under the guise of technical decisions.
Origin of the ‘cone’ insult
The ‘cone’ insult originates from former Barcelona defender Gerard Pique. During an interview, Pique intentionally mispronounced ‘conocido’ (acquaintance) as ‘cono-cido’, placing emphasis on the word ‘cono’ (cone). Pique later leveraged this pun in a prominent marketing campaign displayed on Gran Via, a major street in Madrid, in February of this year.