Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho has shared his thoughts on former Liverpool star Trent Alexander-Arnold's lack of game time amid speculation of a transfer away
Trent Alexander-Arnold and Jose Mourinho
Trent Alexander-Arnold has struggled for minutes under Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho(Image: Alvaro Medranda/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images)
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Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho has seemingly ruled out Trent Alexander-Arnold leaving and revealed how he has reacted to his lack of regular minutes. Alexander-Arnold is yet to cement a starting spot at Los Blancos, leading to speculation that the formerLiverpool star could leave the Spanish capital.
Alexander-Arnold rose through the Reds academy and became a pivotal player under Jurgen Klopp, helping lead his boyhood club to Premier League and Champions League glory. The right-back signed off his time at Anfield by winning the league for a second time in 2025 but has struggled to have the same impact in Madrid.
The Spanish giants paid £10million for the England international as he neared the end of his contract but injuries disrupted Alexander-Arnold during his debut campaign. This season, the defender’s opportunities have been limited by the arrival of Denzel Dumfries and Mourinho’s decision to deploy midfielder Federico Valverde at right-back.
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Alexander-Arnold has started just four of his seven appearances so far this term, as well as being an unused substitute on six occasions. However, Mourinho insists that the former Liverpool star responded positively after he shared his reasons for leaving him out of the side, diminishing the chances of the defender completing a transfer away from the Spanish side.
"Trent and Dumfries accepted my explanations well," Mourinho said. "They understood that this choice was made in the interest of the collective and was not aimed at anyone. Against Barcelona, circumstances meant that Dumfries played and Trent also had a few minutes."
When asked about the challenges of managing his star-studded squad, the Real Madrid boss said: "To begin with, it hurts me. I don't like giving bad feelings to players, I prefer them to feel good.
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Trent Alexander-Arnold of Real Madrid
Alexander-Arnold is set to start for Real Madrid against Racing Santander this weekend(Image: M Gracia Jimenez/Soccrates/Getty Images)
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“When you build a squad with two players per position and end up playing a third, it's not something I appreciate. But there are things more important than these feelings, things that matter more for the team at a given moment.
“I felt we needed to change our midfield and play Fede in that position. It was a decision made for the team, not based on individual players."
The 28-year-old made a brief cameo appearance against Barcelona in La Liga last week but was named in the starting XI to face Racing Santander on Sunday. Alexander-Arnold made just 22 starts for his new club last term, and Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher recently admitted he would welcome having the full-back back at Anfield amid noise that a return could be on the cards.
"At the moment, he’s actually third choice right-back for Real Madrid," Carragher said. "They’re playing a midfield player at right-back, so even in El Clasico, Denzel Dumfries, the first-choice right-back, comes on as a sub. So when you’re third choice at a club, they’re obviously wanting you to move on.
"I’d have him back. I think he made a big mistake (leaving). But if something benefits Liverpool Football Club going forward, when you think of the problems Liverpool have in terms of the right-back…
“Ronnie (Ronald Araujo) has been fantastic but we do have a problem in terms of full-backs passing. We’ve definitely missed his (Alexander-Arnold) creativity.”