Carlo Ancelotti is pleased with Arbeloa and the sentiment is mutual. Despite his diminished role, the 32-year-old has still made 26 appearances this season - enough to make him feel useful and prevent him from looking for pastures new, even though he has had some good offers. In fact, the former Liverpool and Deportivo man had the chance to leave last summer but opted to stay. His good relationship with Carvajal heightened his belief that the club might stick with the same right-back pairing for another season.
The signing of Danilo has thrown a spanner in the works. With both the Brazil international and Carvajal ahead of him in the pecking order, he will be left as the third wheel, a situation that means it is likely his days at the Bernabéu are numbered.
