One of many cruellest realities as to the controversy round Trent Alexander-Arnold and his misplaced genius is that, in Madrid, no such debate exists. Whereas we seek for solutions, these in Spain have little curiosity within the query.
That’s the place the 28-year-old finds himself heading into Sunday’s El Clasico, a match that monopolises each column inch and dialog within the Spanish media. This week, that protection has not bothered a lot with Alexander-Arnold. He’s Actual Madrid’s third-choice proper again. He’s not a Galactico.
But, we proceed to surprise what has occurred, and what is going to occur, to our fallen star. It was six years in the past once I spoke to Cafu about Brazil and World Cups. He needed to speak about Alexander-Arnold.
‘He can take the place of proper again to a different degree,’ stated the best proper again within the historical past of the sport.
‘I believe we have began altering the narrative (due to Alexander-Arnold), with the best way folks view full backs. It isn’t simply the goalscorer who ought to be the most effective participant on the planet. It’s completely unsuitable that some nice gamers by no means received the Ballon d’Or due to their place. These days, full backs ought to be seen as the primary protagonists within the recreation.’
And, for some time after, Alexander-Arnold was precisely that. He was spoken about as a Ballon d’Or contender. In 2022, he was voted within the prime 25 gamers. Even in the summertime of 2025, when he joined Actual from Liverpool, there was hope, no less than right here, that his simple items would flourish as soon as extra.
Trent Alexander-Arnold’s profession is at a crossroads regardless of his high-profile transfer to Madrid
He joined the Spanish membership to a lot fanfare however is an detached determine amongst followers
Such enthusiasm, nevertheless, has by no means actually been shared within the Spanish capital. Jose Mourinho’s indifference in direction of the Scouser has echoes of Thomas Tuchel with England, and Alexander-Arnold’s managers, it will seem, see extra of the issues versus the brilliance that when blinded us to the previous. Mourinho is his third boss on the Bernabeu.
Terry Gibson, previously of Wimbledon and Manchester United, has lined Spanish soccer for twenty years and will probably be commentating on Sunday’s recreation for La Liga TV. Like him, he expects Alexander-Arnold to be on the sidelines.
‘He has by no means been thought to be a significant, famous person signing,’ Gibson informed me this week. ‘Even when he joined, the hope was that Dani Carvajal can be match and play forward of him. Then, when Carvajal left this summer season, they signed Denzel Dumfries. However the greater drawback now’s that Mourinho has moved Federico Valverde, a midfielder, to proper again.
‘I needed to smile final Sunday night time. Valverde began after which Mourinho put Eder Militao at proper again late on. The digital camera lower to Dumfries and Alexander-Arnold on the bench they usually checked out one another as if to say, “I believed this was our competitors”.’
They’re nonetheless in competitors, however just for the function of again as much as Valverde.
‘For my part, Jose is fudging it somewhat bit so as to get his captain within the staff,’ says Gibson. ‘However that’s the fact of it for Alexander-Arnold now. The supporters are type of detached to him. They’re nonplussed about whether or not he stays, goes, performs or no matter. That’s unhappy. It’s additionally a crying disgrace that of all the highest coaches he’s labored with, none of them have been in a position to enhance him defensively. He’s 28 now, in order that’s not going to alter.
‘At occasions, a number of the stuff he’s achieved right here has been superior. His final match towards Villarreal (October 10) I believed was one among his greatest performances for Actual. His set-pieces had been sensible, his cross-field balls. Then, simply after half-time, Mourinho took him off when there was no want and we haven’t seen him since. He’ll play towards the lesser groups at house, possibly, however we shouldn’t anticipate to see a lot of him within the greater video games.’
In Alexander-Arnold’s defence – and, as ever, that is an argument about his attacking deserves – sources in Spain say that Kylian Mbappe loves taking part in with him. There was one trademark cross throughout a 4-0 house win over Malaga in August that laid on a objective for the France striker, they usually had additionally swapped passes within the build-up. However this speaks to Gibson’s remark – trialled within the smaller ones, not trusted within the greater ones.
Jose Mourinho prefers Federico Valverde at proper again, with Alexander-Arnold third alternative
The Englishman is 28 and has a call to make over his footballing future
There was one headline in Spain this month, on the day of his birthday, that learn: ‘Trent turns 28 with out Mourinho’s confidence.’ Historical past tells us, Mourinho’s assist isn’t straightforward to regain.
Every week earlier, throughout the worldwide break and following Alexander-Arnold’s shock recall by Tuchel, Madrid newspaper AS noticed: ‘England reveals the most effective of Trent.’ Once more, although, this was at house to Czech Republic in a routine 3-0 win. He didn’t characteristic towards Spain.
Certainly, some cynics suspected that, no less than partially, Tuchel’s motivation in deciding on Alexander-Arnold within the squad was to divert dialog from the continued fallout of England’s World Cup exit and the top coach’s half in that. His taking part in time with England, you watched, will probably be simply as restricted as in Madrid.
Accidents haven’t helped in Spain, and information reveals he missed 23 Actual fixtures final season.
‘He missed an actual alternative,’ says Gibson. ‘As a result of if he’d stayed match, that place was there for the taking. So he’s not responsible of doing something unsuitable, actually. He is by no means acquired an excessive amount of criticism. He is by no means acquired an excessive amount of reward.’
That dialog with Cafu looks like a very long time in the past now. However as for the subsequent six years, Alexander-Arnold has a call to make. As a result of those that make the selections in Madrid have in all probability determined he’s not for them.
