Newcastle United manager Rafa Benitez is hoping to persuade full back Alvaro Arbeloa to join him at St James’ Park, according to The Daily Mail. The Spaniard, who won the World Cup in 2010, will soon be available on a free transfer as he’ll be released from Champions League winners Real Madrid.
Right back is certainly a position that Newcastle are likely to need strengthening as Dutch international Daryl Janmaat is expected to leave the club. Steven Taylor has already been allowed to move on.
The 33-year-old spent the past seven seasons with Los Blancos, but only managed a handful of appearances last season, where Benitez started the season as manager of the club, only for him to be replaced by Zinedine Zidane.
Benitez already has an association with Arbeloa prior to that, having signed him for Liverpool in January 2007. He went on to enjoy two more full seasons at Anfield, before moving to Madrid for £5million.
In normal circumstances, a player such as Arbeloa wouldn’t consider a move to the second tier of English football, but the obvious association with Benitez means it is certainly a possibility. At the age of 33, perhaps he is coming towards the end of his career at the very highest level.
Although this is anything close to being a done deal, it is certainly something which is in the pipeline. Benitez will surely at least speak to his fellow countryman to enquire about a potential move back into English football. His trophy haul alone makes him an attractive proposition. He has won the World Cup on one occasion, two European Championships, two Champions League titles, La Liga and many, many more.
