Arbeloa to send Real Madrid starlet back to Castilla as veteran pushes for more minutes

Real Madrid Castilla coach Álvaro Arbeloa has opted to recall David Jiménez to the reserve side just days after the 21-year-old academy graduate made an eye-catching La Liga debut against Valencia at Mestalla. Jiménez, handed his first senior start by the club, completed more than 70 minutes at right-back before yielding his spot to Trent Alexander-Arnold, and his poised performance had fuelled speculation that he might remain with the first-team squad for the remainder of the campaign.

Instead, with Dani Carvajal declaring himself fully fit following a private meeting with Arbeloa last Tuesday, the manager has decided that Jiménez’s immediate development is best served by regular minutes with Castilla. The defender is expected to start tomorrow’s clash against Athletic Club in Spain’s third tier, allowing the senior side to rely on the established pairing of Carvajal and Alexander-Arnold at right-back.

Carvajal, club captain and long-time starter, had grown increasingly frustrated after featuring sparingly in the last ten match-day squads and failing even to warm up during the Valencia fixture. The conversation between the 32-year-old and Arbeloa has reportedly settled any lingering doubts over the veteran’s physical readiness, clearing the path for a return to the starting line-up this weekend against Real Sociedad, with Alexander-Arnold providing cover from the bench.

While Real Madrid view Jiménez as part of the first-team picture next season, the immediate priority is to ensure he continues playing competitive football rather than spending prolonged periods on the senior bench. Arbeloa’s decision underscores the club’s commitment to balancing short-term results with the steady progression of its most promising academy talents.