Trent Alexander-Arnold's role at Real Madrid has been thrown into question after slipping to third choice at right-back under Jose Mourinho. The 28-year-old, who arrived in June 2025 on a contract running until 2031 after Madrid paid 10m euros (£8.33m) to secure his early release from Liverpool, has started only four of the club's 13 matches this season. Following the summer acquisition of Denzel Dumfries from Inter Milan and Mourinho's recent deployment of midfielder Federico Valverde at right-back, Alexander-Arnold's action has diminished. The defender has registered just one assist—in a 4-0 win over Malaga—while remaining unused against Roma, Sevilla, and RB Leipzig, and playing only stoppage-time minutes in El Clasico.
The current impasse follows a disrupted 2025-26 debut campaign that fell short of expectations. Alexander-Arnold originally arrived as a long-term successor and cover for Dani Carvajal, calling the transfer a "dream come true" during his unveiling in Spanish. However, he made just 14 starts in 21 La Liga appearances last season. His debut year was hampered by pre-season muscle issues, a hamstring setback in September, and a thigh problem in December, alongside managerial instability that saw Xabi Alonso depart and Alvaro Arbeloa take charge before Mourinho's appointment.
Mourinho addressed January departure rumours by admitting that benching players "hurts" him, but insisted tactical balance takes precedence after choosing to shift Valverde into defence. Although Mourinho praised Alexander-Arnold's tactical intelligence when deploying him in central midfield against Inter Milan in September, former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher argued on The Overlap that the move to Spain was a "big mistake." Carragher noted that dropping to third choice behind Valverde and Dumfries signals Real Madrid want him to move on, adding that he would personally welcome the creator back to Merseyside.
Looking ahead, Alexander-Arnold will hope for opportunities across Madrid's three upcoming fixtures—two in the league and one in the Champions League—prior to the international window. His lack of consistent club minutes poses a challenge for England boss Thomas Tuchel, who announces his squad on 6 November for Nations League encounters with Croatia and Spain. Having earned a recall in September that ended an international exile dating back to June 2025, Alexander-Arnold's reduced playing time now leaves Tuchel with a difficult selection decision.