Don’t look for Alvaro Leiva in the Castilla squad because they won’t find him. The reserve winger, the big news in Levante’s squad, is registered with Real Madrid C. The reason for this decision after being one of Arbeloa’s star reinforcements in the summer is part of an incredible story. Leiva was ‘signed’ (in reality he was recovered after two years on loan), discarded, ‘banished’, readmitted… and finally called up to the first team. Likely, the greatest sporting comeback that is remembered in a youth player from La Fábrica.
The beginning of Arbeloa’s time at the head of Castilla had a problem, a ‘hot potato’. The coach and one of his star reinforcements of the summer, Alvaro Leivathey had a disagreement in the preseason. The player did not meet Arbeloa’s expectations and from that moment on the ‘soap opera’ had countless chapters.
He arrived in July and was able to leave in August
The ‘wound’ took three months to heal. But finally Leiva once again gained Arbeloa’s trust and he got back on the Castilla bandwagon. He did it after having a foot and a half away from Valdebebas (he was one step away from leaving for Villarreal B) and after an ‘exile’ at Real Madrid C. The problem not only had a happy ending, but also a totally unexpected last chapter: Leiva has become Arbeloa’s big news in Madrid’s call-up against Levante.
The anecdote between Arbeloa and Carvajal after winning the Décima
Leiva was one of Arbeloa’s big surprises when outlining his first project at the head of Castilla. The coach requested the ‘signing’ of the skilled winger (he was on loan at Algeciras) and became the great offensive reinforcement of the subsidiary along with Go Fetal. Leiva arrived with the title of starter and with the responsibility of being a differential player. A footballer profile that suited the coach perfectly due to his speed, overflow and verticality. Arbeloa was waiting for him with open armsbut at the first opportunity the plans went awry. Leiva disappointed at the start of the preseason and a rib injury after the Marbella training camp at the end of July ended up complicating everything. As soon as he arrived, Leiva ‘disappeared’.
Discarded and relegated to Madrid C
He did not participate in any of Castilla’s six preseason friendlies and Arbeloa ended up discarding it. The technician’s pulse did not tremble when it came to dispensing with one of the star reinforcements and He put Leiva’s case in the hands of the club. In fact, the player was on the market a month after returning to Madrid (with renewal included until 2027) and received offers to leave. However, the final decision was for him to stay, but He was relegated to Madrid C for all purposes: to play and with a record in the second white reserve team. From there he had to begin his particular comeback after recovering from the injury. And he did it.
Arbeloa remembers Juanito: “I want the Bernabéu to support its players”
After improving his physical fitness and playing several games for Madrid C (six in total), at the end of October Arbeloa opened the doors of Castilla again and included him in the squad for the match against Southampton in the Premier League International Cup at the end of October. Since then, Leiva’s prominence grew, until he started against Cacereño in November. A match in which he put on a great performance and in which he displayed all the offensive repertoire that made him one of the luxury reinforcements of the summer. Leiva was back and his case settled. A ‘signing’ that made Castilla stronger and that now he has become a reinforcement for the first team. It is the incredible story of Arbeloa’s last bet.
