(Photo from Real Madrid website/Pedro Castillo).
ONE year ago, it seemed that the world was at the feet of Trent Alexander-Arnold. Arguably the world’s best right full back, winning his second league title with his boyhood club – Liverpool – and potentially on his way to become a Galactico.
Just over 12 months later, the 28-year-old has played a minuscule 266 minutes in Real Madrid’s opening 10 games in La Liga.
So, what really has happened to Alexander-Arnold, and what could be next?
Injuries and Lack of Game-Time
Moving to Madrid in the summer of 2025, the England international joined the club in a time of uncertainty, following the departure of Carlo Ancelotti and the incoming arrival of Xabi Alonso.
Nonetheless, Alexander-Arnold seemed to remain in the clubs plans, making his debut in America at the FIFA Club World Cup.
Then came bad news for the Liverpool-born defender, with one injury coming after another. First, the Real Madrid man suffered a muscle problem before suffering a serious hamstring injury that kept him out for almost 40 days.
Alexander-Arnold’s bad luck would continue with a muscle tear that saw him on the sidelines for a total of two minutes.
As the right back returned, the manager that he had brought into and signed for had been dismissed. Álvaro Arbeloa was the man to succeed Alonso, and his choice of right full-back was Federico Valverde, a box-to-box midfield who had transitioned and thrive in his new role.
On the bench and behind an un-natural defender, it’s fair to say that it wasn’t going to plan for the Liverpudlian but on the pitch, Alexander-Arnold also did not look himself providing just four assists in La Liga.
(Photo from Real Madrid website/María Jiménez, Víctor Carretero, and Antonio Villalba).
The 2026/27 Season and Jose Mourinho
Another summer went another change for the 28-year-old, and again, the Madridsta’s had a new manager in the dug out as Jose Mourinho took over the helm at Real Madrid.
Alongside a new head coach, Madrid also looked to strengthen their artillery following a turbulent season as player such as Bernado Silva and Ibrahima Konate joined the club.
One of those was also right-back Denzel Dumfries, who joined on a free transfer from Italian Giants, Inter Milan and within his first games in change, Mourinho made his stance clear.
Valverde was first choice, while Dumfries held the position for second in command, meaning that Alexander-Arnold fell to third in the pecking order and in a position that he never could’ve imagine when putting pen to paper for Los Blancos.
In the 2026/27 season, the Englishman seems to have completely lost his creative spark with just one assist in all competitions this season. The one-time Champions League winner has also appeared for just two minutes in his last four games – coming off the bench time in stoppage time against Barcelona.
With the right back clearly out of favour at the Santiago Bernabeu, it seems that it might be time to move on while in just his season campaign at the club.
Where next for Alexander-Arnold?
It may seem an easy option, but a reunion with the Premier League and Alexander-Arnold seems to be a match made in heaven.
A league that the 28-year-old is experienced in and a division that he is a two-time champion in. Liverpool are bound to be a club that is linked with the defender, following his incredible stint at the club and rise through the academy.
However, according to Football Insider, the former Liverpool man could be a surprise option for Chelsea as they are in search for a right-back and replacement for the injured Reece James.
Connecting again with manager Alonso, Alexander-Arnold would also play next to former teammates such as Jordan Henderson in an attacking system which would greatly benefit him, playing in more of a wingback role behind attacker such as Cole Palmer, Morgan Rogers, and Joao Pedro.
To conclude, the future of Trent Alexander may be uncertain, but the right back certainly has to consistently get back on the pitch and gain his old ‘swagger’ back.
