Trent Alexander-Arnold has had a tough start in Spain – and now he is being called upon to make a drastic decision just two league rounds into José Mourinho’s era as Real Madrid manager.
Alexander-Arnold’s future at Real Madrid is uncertain, despite arriving at the club last summer. Mourinho has chosen to start new right-back Denzel Dumfries in his first two La Liga games.
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The Englishman, who controversially left Liverpool for Real Madrid before last year’s Club World Cup, got ten minutes in the opening round’s 2-1 win away to Espanyol.
On Wednesday night, the Liverpool boy had to watch the entire game from the bench, while Kylian Mbappé’s hat-trick ensured a convincing 4-1 win over Real Sociedad.
Seven assists – zero goals in 36 games
Whether Alexander-Arnold’s time in Spain will improve remains to be seen. So far, his stay in Madrid has not gone as planned – the 27-year-old has seven assists and zero goals in 36 games for the La Liga giants.
Despite his contract with Madrid until 2031, supporters on social media believe it is time for the right-back to return to the Premier League – as he approaches what should be the best year of his career.
One fan wrote:
“One of the Premier League’s best right-backs joined Real Madrid in Spain – and is benched by a mediocre Serie A player. That says it all about the Premier League and about the player. Trent had the chance to become the best right-back of all time in the Premier League, but chose to betray his childhood club for money.
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Another added:
– Trent Alexander-Arnold was an unused substitute tonight. Someone who should have captained their childhood club has made themselves an unused substitute for another club. He’s going to suffer.
A third commented:
“Who would have thought that Dumfries would be the one to keep Trent Alexander-Arnold out of Real Madrid’s starting eleven? Trent is now fighting for his place after arriving in Madrid with all the expectations in the world – while Dumfries have only stepped in and established themselves as serious competition. And people compared Trent to world-class Reece James.
A fourth said:
“Trent Alexander-Arnold ruined his legacy and squandered a guaranteed legendary status to chase fame and money. One of the greatest full-back talents of all time – now reduced to a reserve man for Dumfries. If I were him, I would move mountains to get back to Liverpool at all costs.
A fifth interjected:
– Bring in Trent on loan. We need him. He knows the club, he knows the supporters – he would fit right in at right-back. Some supporters may not like it, but it is not a permanent purchase. That would be a good solution for this season.
Expert: “Loan to Newcastle” could revive his career
Before the Real game against Sociedad, European football expert Andy Brassell claimed that a loan to Newcastle United could revive Alexander-Arnold’s career – if he does not return to Liverpool.
Brassell told talkSPORT:
“I think it’s very difficult, because it would be a Premier League team.
“He would be brilliant for Newcastle, who before they bought Amir Dedic, were definitely looking for a right-back.
“I know that they spent a lot of money on Dedic, and that they will have limited funds. But if you could loan Alexander-Arnold to Newcastle for a year, he would be brilliant there – especially with the speed they have in the team.
“Imagine the long passes he could have controlled. Maybe that’s not an attractive move for him – to go to a team in the build-up in the Premier League.
“The reality is that due to financial reasons, the Premier League is the most obvious place for him to go.
“If it’s not Liverpool, the selection is very limited.
“He’s a brilliant player, hugely underrated – and is often treated as a problem, rather than a solution to a problem.
Real Madrid are back in action at home against Málaga on August 30.
