# Third-choice? Inside Alexander-Arnold’s struggles in Madrid

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/third-choice-inside-alexander-arnolds-struggles-in-madrid/
- Published: 2026-11-01T07:42:08+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-01T10:23:32+00:00
- Original publisher: BBC Sport (publisher lean: Centre)
- Original article: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c9e8lp357je7o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss
- Topics: Sport

## Key points

- Alexander-Arnold is struggling for starts at Real Madrid.
- Valverde and Dumfries add competition at right-back.
- Injuries and managerial changes disrupted his first season.

## Summary

Trent Alexander-Arnold is struggling to secure a regular place at Real Madrid, where manager Jose Mourinho appears to prefer Fede Valverde at right-back and Denzel Dumfries is also competing for the position. The England international joined in June 2025 hoping to become first choice, but his limited role has raised questions about how the club plans to use him and whether he could leave.

He has played in seven of Real’s 13 matches this season, starting four and recording one assist; in the past four games, he was absent from three and played only a few minutes in the Clasico. Real paid €10m (£8.33m) to bring him in early from Liverpool, and his contract runs to 2031. Injuries and changes of manager disrupted his first season, when he made 21 La Liga appearances, including 14 starts; Mourinho has said team needs take priority when making difficult selection decisions.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.