Why the Real Madrid Career of Trent Alexander-Arnold Could be Over

In Real Madrid’s 4-1 win over Bundesliga side RB Leipzig in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday night, captain Federico Valverde once again started the game at right-back.

This is the second game in a row that he has started in that position, having moved there in the second half of the win against AS Roma last week. So, basically for the last two and a bit games.

Safe to say, he is doing very well there. Against Leipzig, Valverde won 4/4 tackles and created a big chance, as well as three other chances, showing he can very useful at the other end of the pitch.

But there is an elephant in the room. What does this mean for Trent Alexander-Arnold? That is now three games in a row that the England international has remained an ununused substitute.

In fact, we can take it back a bit further. In the last seven games, dating back to the win over Rayo Vallecano on the 12th of September, the 28-year old has been an unused substitute in five of the last seven games. On the two occasions he did start, he was subbed both times, playing 87 minutes against Elche, and just 52 minutes at home to Villarreal.

Now, you could think— well, isn’t this situation also awkward for Denzel Dumfries? Maybe that is the case, but two things on that. First, the Dutchman has played 576 minutes this season to Alexander-Arnold’s 344 - a difference of nearly two 1/2 full games - and, he is in his debut season. Being eased in is more normal, unlike his counterpart who is in his second campaign at the club.

So, in theory— Valverde is currently first choice right-back, Dumfries is second choice, and Alexander-Arnold is third choice. We wrote a piece last week, saying that Valverde’s more upbeat attitude towards playing full-back was a concern for the Englishman. Well, it is certainly looking that way.

It feels almost impossible that Jose Mourinho will play Alexander-Arnold in the Clasico, against the pace of international team mate Anthony Gordon or Karim Adeyemi. That one will surely be Valverde again. The subsequent game against AEK Athens could give him a chance to stake a claim. If Dumfries (or Valverde) start in that one, it could be curtains.

One more thing to consider is the return to fitness of Eder Militao. Though primarily a central defender, we know the Brazilian has played at right back before, for both club and country, and played well. He feels like the sort of profile that Mourinho would appreciate as a right-back, which would only add further nails to the coffin of Alexander-Arnold’s Real Madrid career. 

Let's see. But it is not looking good.