"Sources have stressed that there is no active push from the player to leave Estadio Bernabeu and no expectation at this stage that he will be departing during the January window." That is the key line around Trent Alexander-Arnold's future. Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City and Chelsea are still being linked, but the player himself is said to be focused on Real Madrid.

Madrid role and the numbers behind it

The move has not settled into a regular starting role yet. Alexander-Arnold started only three of Madrid's eight matches this season, one of them in midfield, and he has made five appearances across competitions so far. One report also has Denzel Dumfries starting six of Madrid's league matches, which gives a clearer sense of where the competition sits.

That is why the January noise has not gone away, but TEAMtalk's line is that the situation is more likely to be assessed at the end of the season if required. Madrid paid Liverpool £8.5million to release him early so he could play at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, and his debut season has already been interrupted by injury problems and competition from Dani Carvajal.

England display and the case for patience

The latest counterweight to the club uncertainty came with England. It was his first start for England since October 2024 against Czechia, and he responded with one assist, three key passes, one big chance created, 95 touches and 88% pass accuracy. He was also named Man of the Match.

Alexander-Arnold described the assist after the game: "I spoke to Gordon at halftime, and I told him that I would move into the spaces and that I would look for him and that he just needed to get to the far post." He added: "I saw the run and was able to execute the pass. He’s a fantastic player who makes excellent runs, and it’s great playing with him."

That performance does not settle the club debate on its own, but it does back up the basic point Madrid bought into. Even with limited starts and a fight for the right-back role, he still looks like a player who can influence a game when he gets the ball in the right areas. The January window is open to outside interest, yet the stronger reading is still that he wants to win his place in Madrid rather than leave before the season reaches its midpoint.

Written by Daniel Hartley with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 6 outlets. How we work →