“He can like Julia Roberts”: Arbeloa brushes off Mbappé reaction as Mourinho rumors swirl

Speculation is mounting that José Mourinho could make a sensational return to Real Madrid this summer, fueled further by Kylian Mbappé’s social media activity. However, Álvaro Arbeloa, the current Madrid coach, is not reading too much into it. Or if he is, he is not admitting it publicly.

Social media sparks fresh Mourinho talk

On Wednesday, Score90 posted a photo on Instagram suggesting a second spell in the Bernabéu dugout for Mourinho, who left the club in 2013. Soccer media accounts linking managers to clubs is run-of-the-mill content these days, but what made this post stand out was that it was liked by one “k.mbappe,” the personal account of the Real Madrid superstar.

Was that Mbappé advocating for Mourinho as the LaLiga giant’s next head coach, or was he simply happy with the image Score90 chose of him alongside the Portuguese manager and Arda Güler?

Arbeloa shrugs off Mbappé ‘like’

Arbeloa was asked about the situation in Thursday’s press conference ahead of Madrid’s visit to Real Betis on Friday and gave a blunt response.

“I do not care,” Arbeloa responded. “He can like Mourinho, Julia Roberts, or whoever he wants.”

What would be more likely to happen? Julia Roberts managing Mbappé, Jude Bellingham and Vinícius Júnior to Champions League glory, or José Mourinho getting an Oscar nomination for playing a Hollywood escort in a romantic comedy? Thankfully, we will never know.

Mourinho rumors refuse to fade as Madrid weigh multiple options

Mourinho, for his part, has not ruled out a return to Madrid. His agent, Jorge Mendes, has floated the idea to the five-time European champions, who appear highly unlikely to keep Arbeloa on beyond the end of the season.

Madrid have already been informed of a release clause included in Mourinho’s Benfica contract, although there are several options on the table in the Bernabéu boardroom. Mauricio Pochettino, Julian Nagelsmann, Max Allegri, Jürgen Klopp and Didier Deschamps are among the names linked with a move to the Spanish capital.

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