Trent Alexander-Arnold has become Real Madrid's third-choice right-back, and the numbers show how far his role has shrunk since he joined from Liverpool in the summer of 2025. He has started only 4 La Liga games and played 257 minutes in the league this season. That is a long way from the status many expected when he arrived in Madrid.
Madrid's right-back pecking order
Terry Gibson's line says a lot about how the move has been viewed inside Spain, because he said Alexander-Arnold "has never been regarded as a major, superstar signing." Gibson also said, "He missed a real opportunity." In recent matches, Federico Valverde has been used at right back instead of Alexander-Arnold, while Denzel Dumfries has also been ahead of him in the rotation.
The usage is thin even when Madrid have trusted him. He has only 1 Champions League appearance for the club this season, and his league rating of 6.96 suggests steady rather than standout form. Gibson was more generous on the ball, saying that "at times, some of the stuff he’s done here has been awesome" after his last match against Villarreal on 10 October, when he was taken off just after half-time.
Liverpool return talk and Trent's own stance
The Liverpool noise has not disappeared, but it is not as simple as a January return. Guillem Balague said, "No, not in January," and added that Alexander-Arnold "has got to keep fighting and he wants to succeed at Real Madrid, so he’s got no intention of leaving." That matches the more cautious reporting that Liverpool are not currently planning a move and are not treating him as a concrete target.
Balague's comments leave the story in a plain place for now. Alexander-Arnold wants to stay, Liverpool are not pushing a move, and Madrid still appear to see him as a fringe option behind Valverde and Dumfries rather than a regular starter. The next league team sheet will tell its own story.
Written by Daniel Hartley with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 4 outlets. How we work →
