Spanish press reports have revealed that the changes in Real Madrid's coaching staff following the departure of Xabi Alonso and the appointment of Álvaro Arbeloa were not limited to the head coach position. They were accompanied by a significant shift within the dressing room, marked by the return of Antonio Pintus to the forefront as one of the key pillars of the first team's coaching staff.

According to the report, Italian fitness coach Antonio Pintus will be Arbeloa's right-hand man after being promoted from coaching the Castilla team to the first team, returning once again as the "strongman" in charge of physical conditioning within the club.

The newspaper explained that Florentino Pérez, known for his consistent support of Pinto, had been pushing for his return to a more influential role for some time, especially given the decline in physical fitness and the numerous injuries that have affected the team this season. For this reason, the club president stepped away from his relatively distant role and traveled to Jeddah to be closer to the team during the recent period.

With the return of Bentos, along with Niko Mihic's comeback a week ago, Real Madrid has completely restructured their physical conditioning department in a swift and decisive move.

Pintos is known within the club as "The Devil," a nickname players jokingly use out of respect due to the strict fitness tests he enforces, especially the famous tests involving masks. Despite his tough methods, the Italian is loved and respected by the players.

Pintos has an impressive track record, having contributed to winning five UEFA Champions League titles with the teams he worked with: one with Juventus and four with Real Madrid. He joined the royal club in 2016 at the request of Zinedine Zidane and played a pivotal role in Real Madrid's successes during their golden era under Zidane and Ancelotti.

Pintos is known for his strict style and his reliance on pushing players to their physical limits, aiming to ensure they reach their best possible fitness during the crucial stages of the season, which has made him a key factor in Real Madrid's recent European successes.

With Arbeloa taking over as head coach, the Madrid management is counting on the Arbeloa–Bentos duo to restore physical discipline and stop the injury bleeding, as a prelude to trying to salvage what remains of the season and strongly compete for the remaining titles.