Trent Alexander-Arnold warned he may be fourth choice Real Madrid right-back as team news leaked

Alexander-Arnold faces competition from Valverde, Dumfries and possibly Militao for the right-back role at Real Madrid ahead of Sunday's El Clasico.

Trent Alexander-Arnold is struggling for playing time at Real Madrid under José Mourinho, with leaked team news suggesting he could be as low as fourth choice for Sunday's El Clasico against Barcelona. The 28-year-old has started just three games all season and made five appearances in total. Fede Valverde is the primary option at right-back, though he has been deployed out of position there in recent matches. Summer signing Denzel Dumfries from Inter Milan is expected to start against Barcelona, pushing Valverde up to right-wing with Vinicius Jr suspended. Spanish football expert Alex Kirkland argued Alexander-Arnold is comfortably third choice, while former striker Tony Cascarino suggested he could even be considered fourth, with Éder Militao also capable of playing the position.

Alexander-Arnold's struggles have been attributed to injuries, inconsistent form, and difficulty adapting to Madrid's style compared to his predecessor Dani Carvajal. Kirkland noted the former Liverpool star has shown flashes of his quality in passing and set pieces but hasn't been frequent enough to make a lasting impression. Amid his difficulties in Spain, there has been speculation about a possible return to Liverpool, though Kyle Walker suggested it would be complicated given the manner of his departure.