Third-choice? Inside Alexander-Arnold's struggles in Madrid

Alexander-Arnold is third-choice right-back at Real Madrid after Dumfries' arrival and Mourinho's preference for Valverde in the role.

Trent Alexander-Arnold's first season at Real Madrid has fallen short of expectations. The England full-back joined the club in June 2025 with ambitions of becoming the first-choice right-back, but competition has intensified following Denzel Dumfries' arrival from Inter Milan. Manager Jose Mourinho has favoured Fede Valverde, normally a midfielder, as the starting right-back, leaving Alexander-Arnold as third choice.

Alexander-Arnold has featured in seven of Real's 13 games this season, starting just four times with one assist. His involvement has notably declined in recent weeks, missing matches against Roma, Sevilla and RB Leipzig, and appearing for only a couple of minutes in the Clasico. Injuries—including hamstring and thigh problems—disrupted his debut campaign, limiting him to 21 La Liga appearances with 14 starts.

Mourinho acknowledged the difficulty of the situation, stating that selection decisions are painful but team needs must come first. Despite holding a contract until 2031, Alexander-Arnold's future at the club now hangs in the balance.