Ahead of tonight's Champions League clash, Mourinho admits he is pleased to see "one of my boys" leading Real. Arbeola played for Mourinho when the Portuguese was coach of Real.
He said: "I wish him all the best. Arbeloa can coach any club in the world. Real Madrid can be coached by any coach in the world, and I want him to do well. Imagine with Álvaro. Except tomorrow.
"I love Arbeloa and Real Madrid. I can't give him advice. The important thing is that he's happy. Being a coach is a difficult task because there are many people who criticize you and talk about you every day. They create influencers in the world of football. It's important that he enjoys it.
"I haven't spoken to him. My phone number is very complicated because the only one that's always available is the club's. And my family's. My other number changes. Some people lose my contact information, and I lose it too. There's no need for us to call each other to wish each other luck. He already knows that. Then... It's simple. If we don't win, we're out. Draw or defeat. If we win, we'll know in the locker room."
On Arbeloa's predecessor Xabi Alonso, Mourinho also said: "Xabi is another one of my boys. I only have positive memories. I felt the same excitement I'll feel tomorrow against Álvaro. I played against Xabi and I was thrilled. What he did at Leverkusen was a great joy, and so was his arrival at Real Madrid.
"What happened afterward and why it ended doesn't interest me. Anything can happen. Now he'll be very happy because he's shown the level of coach he can reach.