'In his first season': Spanish media deliver harsh verdict on Trent Alexander-Arnold's debut year at Real Madrid
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Trent Alexander-Arnold left Liverpool for Real Madrid last year, and the right-back has not had the best of times.Alexander-Arnold was booed by Reds fans when he faced his former team for the first time in the Champions League this season.The Liverpool faithful do not seem too pleased he decided to move, while the full-back isn’t getting a lot of love in Spain either. You can only pick ONE player for Liverpool to sign this summer, who is it?
Who should Richard Hughes be targeting above all… Photo Credit: Getty Images/Robin Jones Ahead of the 2026 World Cup, the former Liverpool star is in on the outside of Thomas Tuchel’s plans.Now, Marca have commented on his chances of making it to the tournament and, when doing so, have issued a rather scathing verdict on his first season in Spain.They stated: “In his first season at the Bernabéu, Trent Alexander-Arnold has shown more weaknesses than strengths, especially defensively. He has played significantly more than Dani Carvajal (1,382 to 858), but that hasn’t been enough to make England remember him.
The Liverpool defender hasn’t played for his country since June 2025: less than half an hour against Andorra. And to find his last start, you have to go back to October 2024: a 3-1 win against Finland, in which he scored a goal.“Between injuries, doubts about Thomas Tuchel and the preference for Ben White and Tino Livramento , the English full-back for Real Madrid faces the final stretch of the season with a lot to prove in order for his national team coach to include him among the 26 World Cup players.”Wayne Rooney thinks Alexander-Arnold’s England career is over, adding more misery onto the right-back, whose career has stagnated since he opted to leave Anfield.The 27-year-old has made 24 appearances this season, providing five assists for Los Blancos.But with Madrid out of the Champions League and FC Barcelona nine points clear in La Liga, he, like Liverpool, is expected to end 2025/26 without a major trophy.With hindsight, it is a move that, so far, has not really worked out for either party, with Trent struggling to reach his top form in Spain and the Reds having consistent issues at right-back this term.Alexander-Arnold wasn’t happy with how he left his boyhood club, but there’s not much either party can do to change that now.A return to England with Manchester City was mooted earlier this season, but noise around such a move has gone quiet in recent months.Join Our NewsletterReceive a digest of our best Liverpool content each week direct to your mailbox