Trent Alexander Arnold left Liverpool in the summer to join Real Madrid and reunite with his England teammate Jude Bellingham in the process
Former Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold has struggled to settle at Real Madrid following his move in the summer
Former Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold has struggled to settle at Real Madrid following his move in the summer
View 2 Images
Former Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold and his teammate Jude Bellingham have been snubbed from the 2026 Real Madrid calendar. Bellingham is thought to have played a key role in persuading Alexander-Arnold to make the move to the Bernabeu, a decision that sparked tension between the latter and Liverpool supporters when he opted not to renew his contract at the end of last season.
Although initially set to join Real Madrid on a free transfer in June, Los Blancos shelled out £8.4m to release the full-back from his contract early, enabling him to participate in the Club World Cup. However, since his transfer to Spain, Alexander-Arnold has found it challenging to settle into his new team as swiftly as Bellingham did.
Following a few underwhelming performances, the ex-Liverpool player sustained a hamstring injury just five minutes into the Champions League match against Marseille, which has since kept him off the pitch and in the treatment room. There is no doubts as to whether he will be fit for the Champions League clash with the Reds on November 4.
Bellingham has also faced health setbacks this year, undergoing shoulder surgery over the summer which caused him to miss the first four games of the La Liga season. Since his return, he has yet to score a goal or provide an assist.
Now, both players are left wondering why they were overlooked for inclusion in the official Real Madrid calendar. Retailing at £10.99 from the Calendar Club, the product showcases several Real stars including Thibaut Courtois, Vinicius Jr. and Kylian Mbappe.
However, Bellingham is conspicuously absent, despite his appearance in the 2025 edition. Alexander-Arnold is also missing, albeit his omission could be attributed to the timing of his transfer from Liverpool.
Real Madrid included a number of their current stars in next year's calendar but Trent Alexander-Arnold did not make the cut
Real Madrid included a number of their current stars in next year's calendar but Trent Alexander-Arnold did not make the cut
View 2 Images
However, Dean Huijsen, who joined on the same day as Alexander-Arnold, does make an appearance in the calendar. Huijsen's inclusion could be due to him finalising his move in mid-May, slightly ahead of Alexander-Arnold.
While not the ultimate measure of a player's standing, appearances in calendars often provide a good indication of how the club views a player's status. For Bellingham and Alexander-Arnold, this omission is a worrying slight at a time when both players are trying to establish themselves this season.
For the latest news and breaking news, visit liverpoolecho.co.uk/all-about/liverpool-fc. Get all the big headlines, pictures, analysis, opinion and video on the stories that matter to you.
Follow us on Twitter @LivEchoLFC - the official Liverpool ECHO LFC Twitter account - for all the latest LFC news as it happens in real time.
We're also on Facebook/LiverpoolEchoLFC - your must-see LFC news, features, videos and pictures throughout the day from the Liverpool ECHO.
Listen to our podcasts by searching for 'Blood Red' wherever you get your podcasts.
Sign up for one of the Liverpool Echo's free daily and weekly newsletters on Liverpool FC by clicking here.