Trent Alexander-Arnold left Liverpool last year for Real Madrid but his dream transfer hasn't gone to plan, with reports suggesting Alvaro Arbeloa replacing Xabi Alonso hasn't helped things
Trent Alexander-Arnold, of Real Madrid,
Trent Alexander-Arnold has been struggling at Real Madrid(Image: David S. Bustamante/Real Madrid via Getty Images)
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Liverpool can’t even consider welcoming Trent Alexander-Arnold back to the club after his move to Real Madrid went sour, according to Danny Murphy. Alexander-Arnold has reportedly been told by Real boss Alvaro Arbeloa that he is not in his plans and can leave the club in the summer.
The right-back has only been in the Spanish capital for half a season but things are already not going to plan. Alexander-Arnold controversially decided to leave his boyhood club for a fresh challenge with Real last year.
He joined for £10million for the Club World Cup in the summer but has been hampered by injuries in the 2025/26 campaign, making just 11 appearances in all competitions. Arbeloa has been fielding Fede Valverde at right-back recently and also has veteran Dani Carvajal back from injury.
According to reports in Spain, Arbeloa has spoken to Alexander-Arnold and explained that he isn’t in his long-term plans – although that suggestion has since been pushed back against. That has opened up the possibility of a return to the Premier League, but former Liverpool midfielder Murphy says it can’t be at Anfield.
“No. I think that would be a difficult one to sell to the fans,” Murphy told BestBettingSites when asked if he’d be welcomed back to Liverpool. “Also, not many players go back to a former club and succeed. The succession plan has to be about moving forward and evolving the team. So no, I don’t think that would work.”
Despite the contentious nature of his departure last year, Alexander-Arnold was given a fitting farewell by the Liverpool fans after his 354th appearance in May. “He deserved it. I am very happy for him and everyone in and around the club that things worked out the way they did,” Arne Slot said at the time.
“It went brilliant when our fans are together. How brilliant they were before the Tottenham game, during the Tottenham game and afterwards I don’t think you see as many special celebrations as you saw four weeks ago.
Trent Alexander-Arnold
Trent Alexander-Arnold is yet to nail down a place at Real Madrid(Image: Getty Images)
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“I don’t think you see many celebrations like we had them today. It’s no surprise to me that they (the fans) were brilliant again today as they were throughout the whole season, as they were towards Trent.”
Alexander-Arnold is currently sidelined with a thigh injury which has followed a hamstring problem and throws into doubt not just his status at Real, but also his chances of earning a place in the England squad for the World Cup this summer. He was left out of the squad by Thomas Tuchel in November and faces an uphill battle to make it, even if he is fit.
“It’s my job now to make contact with everyone, players like Trent,” Tuchel said at the time after picking Alexander-Arnold’s ex-Liverpool team-mate Jarell Quansah instead. “Players that are on our longlist, 55, 60 players, to reach out to them, be in touch with them, explain to them why they were not here.
“Explain to them what they have to do, where they can improve. Can they even do something or is it just a choice? So this is my job in the next weeks and months.”
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