Iván Helguera, who played for Real Madrid from 1999 to 2007, has taken a swipe at the club’s current situation with a pointed Machiavellian quote. On Instagram, the 51-year-old ex-defender shared an image of president Florentino Pérez alongside Álvaro Arbeloa, captioning it with a line from Niccolò Machiavelli’s *The Prince*: “He who tolerates disorder to avoid war, first has disorder, and then war.”
The post left little doubt about Helguera’s views, as he published it for his more than 7,600 followers. During his 346 official appearances for Real Madrid, Helguera won two European Cups and three La Liga titles, among other honors, establishing himself as one of the top center‑backs of his era.
This is not the first time Helguera has voiced criticism. In January, after Real Madrid appointed Arbeloa as first‑team coach instead of Xabi Alonso, Helguera posted a cryptic emoji reaction: “Arbeloa” accompanied by two laughing‑crying faces and two face‑palm emojis. The laughing‑crying emoji typically signifies uncontrollable laughter, while the face‑palm emoji conveys embarrassment, frustration, or disbelief—essentially a “I can’t believe it” or “cringe” reaction.
Earlier in March, Helguera went further on Iker Casillas’ podcast *Bajo los palos*, arguing that Arbeloa was not the right man for the job. He stated: “Barcelona has an incredible youth academy, and that has made everything easier for them—something Real Madrid must learn from. Aside from Asencio, no players have come through Madrid’s system in a very long time, and that’s a handicap. Barcelona takes care of the game itself, while we only care about winning. For me, it’s important to also link that to the style of play.”
Helguera also criticized Madrid’s coaching instability: “A coach arrives and plays one way, then another comes and plays differently. At Barcelona, it’s not like that. The coaches have to adapt, and you see they do. Maybe Barcelona lacks that winning mentality, which is something good we have at Real Madrid. But I love how Barça manages its youth system—it’s wonderful.”