Trent Alexander-Arnold appears to have slipped significantly down the pecking order at Real Madrid under Jose Mourinho, with the 28-year-old reportedly set to be benched once again for Sunday's El Clasico encounter against Barcelona. The former Liverpool defender has found playing time hard to come by this season, managing just three starts and five total outings under Mourinho, which brings his overall league tally to only 17 LaLiga appearances for the club. According to leaked team information from the Spanish press, summer arrival Denzel Dumfries is slated to be handed the starting right-back position instead.
Fede Valverde had been deployed at right-back in recent fixtures despite openly admitting he does not enjoy featuring out of position, but a suspension for Vinicius Jr could see the midfielder pushed forward onto the right wing. This adjustment has paved the way for Dumfries, signed from Inter Milan, to step into the defence, while goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois is confirmed to be absent due to a bout of flu. Reviewing the squad dynamics on the Weekend Sports Breakfast, Spanish football expert Alex Kirkland argued that Alexander-Arnold is currently third choice behind Valverde and Dumfries, noting that the defender's previous campaign was disrupted by injuries and form, meaning he failed to make an impact comparable to Jude Bellingham.
The debate around Alexander-Arnold's status intensified when former Premier League forward Tony Cascarino suggested the Englishman might even be viewed as a fourth-choice option, pointing out that Eder Militao has also featured at right-back. In response, Kirkland remarked that while Alexander-Arnold still exhibits flashes of quality with his passing, crosses, and set pieces, they have been infrequent compared to the relentless, aggressive style previously offered by Dani Carvajal. Kirkland admitted he would be completely staggered if Alexander-Arnold were chosen to start against Barcelona, referencing ongoing struggles with confidence and rhythm.
Real Madrid initially secured Alexander-Arnold for an £8.4 million fee so he could represent the club at the 2025 Club World Cup just prior to the end of his Anfield deal, but his marginal role has prompted questions regarding his future. Former international teammate Kyle Walker told talkSPORT that returning to Liverpool would be difficult due to how Alexander-Arnold's exit was received by fans, suggesting that if the full-back were to make a Premier League comeback, it would have to be with another heavyweight club like Manchester United or Manchester City.