What happens to Real Madrid Castilla now that Alvaro Arbeloa has stepped up

Real Madrid are already planning the next phase of their youth development, given that Alvaro Arbeloa has now taken over as the senior team manager. 

Decisions have been taken to ensure continuity at Valdebebas following Arbeloa’s promotion and his imminent debut with the senior side.

Although confirmation is still pending, Mundo Deportivo confirms that the club has internally identified Julian Lopez de Lerma as Arbeloa’s successor at Castilla. 

Until now, Lopez de Lerma has been in charge of Juvenil A, a role he assumed last summer when Arbeloa moved up to manage the reserve team. 

Who is Julian Lopez de Lerma?

Lopez de Lerma’s football journey did not begin in Madrid. As a player, he came through Espanyol. 

After hanging up his boots, he continued his development on the coaching side at the Catalan club. 

There, he worked closely with Manolo Gonzalez, now Espanyol’s first-team coach, serving as his assistant with the club’s reserve side. 

Alvaro Arbeloa will make his managerial debut tonight. (Photo courtesy: X/RealMadrid)

Eventually, he joined Los Blancos in 2024 and was initially placed in charge of Juvenil B. 

The impact was immediate, as his team went on to win the league title, a success that accelerated his rise within the club’s structure. 

That achievement earned him a promotion to Juvenil A, where he maintained stability after stepping into a role vacated by Arbeloa.

Further adjustments

The changes do not stop there. According to reports, further adjustments are being prepared across Madrid’s youth setup. 

In the ‘C’ team, Joselu Sanchez is expected to depart, with Victor Cea lined up as his replacement. 

Meanwhile, Alvaro Lopez, who had been working with Juvenil C, has been selected to join the Juvenil A staff. 

His assistant, Nacho Roman, will move up to take full responsibility for Juvenil C, ensuring continuity and minimal disruption within the youth ranks.