Alvaro Arbeloa has said Jose Mourinho's relationship with his players during his time as Real Madrid coach was not as bad as has been made out, while he feels the Portuguese could still return to the Santiago Bernabeu one day.
Mourinho's three years in charge of Madrid came to an end in 2013 after a trophyless final season and amid reports that he had fallen out with much of the dressing room.
That included a much-publicised dispute with captain Iker Casillas, which led to the goalkeeper and Arbeloa falling out as a result of their different views on Mourinho.
Arbeloa, however, insists that the current Chelsea boss' struggles at Madrid have been blown out of proportion, while stressing that he actually got on with much of the team.
"Many times people say he ended up badly with players, but he still got on well with lots of people when he left -- [Luka] Modric, [Raphael] Varane, Diego [Lopez], Xabi [Alonso]... there were more players he left on good terms with than bad," he told TV chat show "El Chiringuito de Jugones."
Arbeloa said he has never talked about joining Mourinho at Chelsea, but did claim it is possible that the Portuguese could return to the Santiago Bernabeu at some point in the future.
"It is very unlikely I will play for Mourinho again," he said. "Although of course there is a chance he will return to coach Real Madrid. The door is not closed at Madrid for any coach in the world. Mourinho is a great coach, but you would have to ask him."
Arbeloa also touched on the breakdown in his relationship with Casillas during Mourinho's time at Madrid.
The full-back said it was difficult at the time to criticise Casillas, who is hugely popular in the local media due to his achievements with the club.
"There is no problem between us now. There was no need to talk about it, time solves these things," Arbeloa said. "The press takes his side, although he has earned that being the best for years. When you speak clearly, without being in the 'Casillas' camp, you get media pressure. The majority of the media are 'Casillista.'"