Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was a surprise guest at the Estadio Alfredo di Stefano at Valdebebas on Sunday, as he attended the under-19s Madrid derby between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid.
Contemporaries Alavro Arbeloa and Fernando Torres were on the bench for the two sides, although without the confrontations of last year, in a top of the table clash in the Madrid league. Torres’ Atletico ran out 2-0 winners over Los Blancos, sending themselves seven points clear of both Real Madrid and second place.
Mikel Arteta está en Valdebebas para el derbi entre los juveniles de Arbeloa y Fernando Torres.
También Leo Franco o Heinze, que han estado hablando con Solari. @TheAthleticFC pic.twitter.com/makcMleh3Z
— Mario Cortegana (@MarioCortegana) March 17, 2024
Arteta was spotted in the stands at the game, and it is not yet clear what the reason for his presence was, although it seems unlikely it was leisure. So far Arsenal are yet to be linked with players from either side, as per MD.
👀 Mikel Arteta, entrenador del Arsenal, en Valdebebas viendo el derbi juvenil entre el Real Madrid y el Atlético de Madrid.
🎥 @ManuAmor1 pic.twitter.com/FyasdMENCD
— Relevo (@relevo) March 17, 2024
The Arsenal coach was not the only illustrious former footballer present, with former Atletico goalkeeper Leo Franco and ex-Real Madrid defender Gabriel Heinze also spotted there, as per Mario Cortegana. The pair of them are former teammates of Santiago Solari for Argentina too, with whom they were seen speaking. Solari is Real Madrid’s unofficial sporting director, having overseen the facilities and the academy in recent years.
🚨 FULL-TIME: Atletico Madrid B beat Rául González’s Real Madrid 2-0. pic.twitter.com/VBWVXXuHCw
— Atletico Universe (@atletiuniverse) March 17, 2024
