Trent Alexander-Arnold has reportedly been told to find a new club after a difficult start to life at Real Madrid, which has seen him complete 90 minutes on just three occasions
08:55, 26 Jan 2026
It has been claimed that Trent Alexander-Arnold has been told to find a new club
It has been claimed that Trent Alexander-Arnold has been told to find a new club(Image: Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Real Madrid has reportedly run out of patience with Trent Alexander-Arnold, just months on from the defender's controversial move to the Spanish capital.
Alexander-Arnold only joined Madrid in May, but he has played just 11 times for his new club – completing 90 minutes on three occasions. A hamstring injury sustained in September kept him out of the team for around a month, and upon his return to the side he suffered a thigh injury, which has kept him out since the start of December.
The truth is Alexander-Arnold's debut season could not have gone much worse, and a Spanish outlet last week claimed that he has been told by new manager Alvaro Arbeloa to find a new club in the summer.
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That suggestion has been played down by other outlets, but if it turns out to be true, it would leave Alexander-Arnold in an intriguing position.
Where could he go next? A lucrative move to Saudi Arabia would likely be an option, but it would be a surprise were he to go down that road at this stage in his career.
Most of Europe's top clubs would be keen – and it would be interesting to know whether Liverpool could be one of them.
There are many Liverpool fans who don't want the club to have anything to do with Alexander-Arnold due to the manner in which he departed last year.
But there is no doubt that Liverpool is a weaker team without him in it, despite the emergence of Conor Bradley.
Bradley – like Alexander-Arnold – has had his injury issues this year, and although he is potentially a better defender than his predecessor, he does not possess the attacking threat that Alexander-Arnold carries.
Trent Alexander-Arnold right-back of Real Madrid and England sitting on the bench prior the Spanish Super Cup semi-final match between Atletico de Madrid and Real Madrid at King Abdullah Sports City Hall Stadium on January 8, 2026 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Trent Alexander-Arnold has barely played for Real Madrid since joining(Image: Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Liverpool would not want to pay a substantial sum of money for a player that left for a massively reduced transfer fee, so that could put a spanner in the works as far as a potential return to Merseyside for Alexander-Arnold is concerned.
But from a playing perspective, there is logic behind suggesting that Liverpool should re-sign the 27-year-old.
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Liverpool has a history of re-signing former favorites, with Robbie Fowler playing for the club across two separate spells, while the example most comparable to the Alexander-Arnold situation involves Ian Rush.
After seven seasons at Liverpool, Rush left the Reds in 1987 to join Juventus – only to return a year later and spend eight more years at the club.
Rush's initial departure wasn't as acrimonious as Alexander-Arnold's, but soccer fans are easy to win over with great performances on the pitch – and everyone knows Alexander-Arnold is capable of producing those.