Former Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold has suffered another major setback in his first season with Real Madrid after the Spanish side confirmed he has sustained an injury.
"Following tests carried out today on our player, Trent Alexander-Arnold, by the Real Madrid Medical Services, he has been diagnosed with a muscle injury in the rectus femoris of his left quadriceps. His recovery will be monitored," Real Madrid said in a statement on Thursday.
Alexander-Arnold was withdrawn in the 55th minute at San Mames as Real Madrid won 3-0 against Athletic Club, with two goals from Kylian Mbappe and one from Eduardo Camavinga. He was replaced by Raul Asencio.
The Spanish journalist Arancha Rodriguez has reported that he could be sidelined for two months.
Things have not gone smoothly for Alexander-Arnold, where his performances have come under scrutiny. This is already the second injury that he has sustained, while he was jeered on a losing return to Anfield.
In a piece for Marca, Spanish journalist Alfredo Relano ripped into Alexander-Arnold this week.
"Now that Trent is here, he seems like a clueless and insubstantial player, with the expression of a rabbit in the headlights," Relano wrote. "His quality at set pieces is masked by his right foot, but in open play he is non-existent."
Arne Slot, head coach of Liverpool
Arne Slot, head coach of Liverpool (Image: Justin Setterfield/Getty Images))
Alexander-Arnold opted to leave Liverpool at the end of last season after he had won the Premier League title with the Reds.
"Like everybody who likes Liverpool and who is a fan of Liverpool we are disappointed for him leaving because not only a good human being is leaving but a very good full-back is leaving us as well," Arne Slot said at the time.
"I also worked at clubs like AZ Alkmaar and Feyenoord where every season good players left, so I am a bit more used to it.
"The experience I have and this club as well, is if a good very good player is leaving, the next very good player will step up and that is what probably will happen again."
This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
Liverpool FC 2025/26 kits
Slot wasn't willing to comment further on the matter at the time, cheekily sidestepping the question about the player choosing to join Real Madrid — something that at the time hadn't been confirmed.
"Do you know where Trent is going? He hasn't said anything about it himself," Slot said.
"The only thing he has said that he will leave the club, so it is impossible to comment on where he is going and if that is a club that will play in the Club World Cup. You see by my smile, we both know where he is going to but it hasn't been said yet."