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Álvaro Arbeloa appeared to put an end to his public dispute with Kylian Mbappé, describing the forward as "an extraordinary player with unparalleled talent" in a farewell message posted on social media.
Arbeloa announced his departure as Real Madrid manager ahead of Saturday's La Liga season finale at home to Athletic Club—a game the hosts claimed 4–2, with Mbappé getting on the scoresheet.
The No.9 scored Madrid's third goal of the night and his 25th of the season to clinch the Pichichi Trophy as La Liga's leading scorer for the second consecutive year.
Despite the goals, it has been a difficult season for Mbappé, who has yet to lift a major trophy since joining Madrid two years ago.
The striker's inability to build chemistry with Vinícius Jr has frustrated Madrid supporters, while off-pitch controversies including a poorly timed trip to Italy have deepened the sense of disillusionment surrounding him.
Turbulent Months for Mbappé and Arbeloa
Mbappé, who was omitted from the Clásico loss to Barcelona and then introduced only as a substitute in the victory over Real Oviedo earlier this month, fired back at his critics while also appearing to take aim at his manager.
The World Cup winner claimed he was "fourth choice" under Arbeloa, and told reporters that Real Madrid had lost "structure and playing style" in the second half of the campaign. He also praised his "great relationship" with Arbeloa's predecessor Xabi Alonso, and stated that he doesn't watch the manager's press conferences.
Mbappé was reportedly among those who opposed Alonso's mid-season exit, and he has struggled to find common ground with Arbeloa throughout the manager's tenure.
Despite the tension, Arbeloa and Mbappé navigated the final matches of the season without further conflict and appeared to have made peace following the announcement of the manager's exit.
'Tough Times Don't Last'—Arbeloa
On his Instagram stories, Arbeloa shared a tribute to his star attacker alongside a photo of the two embracing.
He wrote: "Thank you very much, Kylian Mbappé. I will always be proud to have coached such an extraordinary footballer with unparalleled talent. Tough times don't last forever, but strong people do."
Mbappé was not the only player to receive a heartfelt farewell from Arbeloa, who referred to Antonio Rüdiger as "my warrior" and Jude Bellingham as "a true leader," among other personal tributes shared in the same Instagram story.
In his message to Vinícius Jr, Arbeloa wrote: "Thank you, Vini, for your dedication, your effort, your talent, and your bravery.
"Never change. It has been an honor to be your coach."
Arbeloa Rules Out Staying for Now
Speaking before the weekend's season finale, Arbeloa confirmed he was leaving but expressed hope of returning to the club in the future if the opportunity arose.
"I'm leaving Real Madrid with enormous gratitude, as the players have made me a better person and brought me joy every single day," he told the media.
"I hope this is just a 'see you later,' because I've always thought of this as my home. I've been part of Real Madrid for 20 years in many different capacities. This will be my final match this season as Real Madrid coach, and I don't know whether it will be the last of my career as Real Madrid coach."
However, he dismissed any prospect of remaining within the coaching structure under his anticipated successor José Mourinho.
"Mourinho has a fantastic coaching staff and is very well supported. If he arrives, he'll bring his own people, as it should be. There's no possibility of me joining him," he added.