Arbeloa eyeing Club World Cup to complete his collection

Álvaro Arbeloa celebrated reaching 200 appearances with Real Madrid with just one wish: to win the FIFA Club World Cup with Ancelotti’s team in Morocco in December – the only trophy which he has never won.

“For a player who came up through the youth teams like I did, reaching 200 games with Real Madrid was something you could never have imagined; it’s a feat which makes me feel very proud. I joined Madrid as a kid and now I am a man, and have made 200 first team appearances,” the player told the club’s web page.

“We are hoping to win the FIFA Club World Cup in December so we can then say we have won everything with Real Madrid. This is my sixth season here and there is nothing greater in the world of football than winning with Real Madrid. Winning ‘La Décima’ and that goal in minute 93 will be etched in the minds of madridistas forever. In the same year I joined, Zidane scored that wonder goal for the ninth European Cup and 12 years later I was part of the side that won the tenth. It is hard for people to understand how important it for me to win the European Cup with a team I have followed since I was a kid,” he added.

Arbeloa says that if possible, he would like to end his playing days at the Bernabéu. “I want to be part of this club for as long as I can. This is my home. This club will always be in my heart and hopefully I have many years ahead of me here. I have two seasons left on my current contract, but it would be an honour for me to be able to end my career at Real Madrid. I know that won’t be easy because of the demands involved with being a Madrid player, but that’s not a problem for me. I’ll always put in the effort and make sacrifices every day so that the team can continue to win trophies.

“I’ve had some fantastic coaches. From [José Antonio] Camacho who was the first, right through to Ancelotti. I’ll never forget Ancelotti’s pep talk in our fourth consecutive semi-final against Bayern,” the defender said, adding that if he has to choose his favourite goal, it would be the one he scored in the Madrid derby at the Bernabéu in March 2010. “The one I scored against Atlético is my favourite; it was special because it was a very tough game, it was locked at 1-1 and it was quite a beautiful goal. I enjoy every goal I score for Madrid as well as all the goals my team mates score. I was a fan of this club even before I became a player here”.

from Últimas noticias | Diario AS http://ift.tt/1vFoOMP

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