Alvaro Arbeloa is the cover star for Saturday’s edition of Marca. The former Real Madrid defender spent last season at West Ham, having moved to the Premier League club on a free transfer, but he’s now decided to call it a day.
Marca asked Arbeloa if his West Ham experience was the most difficult season of his career, to which the Spaniard replied: “It has been complicated. It’s something that when it comes to my mind I try not to think much about. At a professional level it has not been an easy year and that also has a personal impact, of course.”
The Spanish newspaper weren’t afraid to ask if Arbeloa’s West Ham nightmare was a reason behind the decision to retire, and the 34 year old suggested it had very much had an impact: “I always thought I would play until my legs held out, but in the end it was a head and motivation issue. Many times you consider life in a way or see the future in a way, but life has other things prepared and you have to know how to accept them and face them. Things this season did not come out as I had dreamed. I am being honest with myself when I say goodbye.”
Arbeloa isn’t blaming West Ham, but it seems clear his struggles there were at least a steep learning curve, and made the player clear that retirement was the correct option to now take.
So what now? He’ll just chill on the yacht for a little longer before returning to live in Madrid and starting a new, as yet unknown, career.
