Real Madrid star Alvaro Arbeloa says Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho may return to La Liga giants

Former Liverpool star Alvaro Arbeloa has claimed Jose Mourinho may return to Real Madrid in the future even though he admitted that the Chelsea manager is currently very happy at Stamford Bridge.

Even though Mourinho ended his three-year spell in La Liga on a sour note, with allegedly strained relationships with some members of the squad and the Spanish media, he also forged a strong connexion with the likes of Arbeloa and Xabi Alonso.

Reports in Spain then claimed there were indeed two groups at the Santiago Bernabeu, divided between Mourinho supporters, leaded by Arbeloa, Alonso and Diego Lopez, and another group that opposed Portuguese boss, like Sergio Ramos, Cristiano Ronaldo and Iker Casillas, who was even relegated to the bench.

Arbeloa still has a good relationship with his former boss. During an interview with Spanish TV show El Chiringuito, he said his last chat with Mourinho on 27 March.

"Last time I spoke with Mourinho was last Friday. He is very happy in London. His family are very happy there especially because here (at Real Madrid) they were persecuted (by the media). They are more comfortable there (in London)".

When asked if it's more likely that Mourinho will return to Real Madrid or that Arbeloa himself might reunite with the boss somewhere else, the defender said. "It is difficult for me to reunite with Mourinho."

And when questioned over whether Mourinho could return to Real Madrid, he said: "Yes, why not. Real Madrid have not closed the door for any manager and if you asked me whether he can return - of course. He is a great manager. There are possibilities. Why not? You have to ask him.

"I believe he (had good memories from his time at Real Madrid). Many times people have said that he ended badly with some players but he eventually ended well with most of the squad. He ended well with Modric, Benzema, Varane, Diego (Lopez), Xabi. There were more players that ended well with him that the opposite".

Last year, Mourinho claimed he wouldn't have any problem in returning to Real Madrid, where he also maintains a good relationship with president Florentino Perez.