Trent Alexander-Arnold’s second season in Spain has been far from smooth, with the former Liverpool right-back struggling to establish himself as a regular starter at Real Madrid.
The England international left Liverpool two summers ago to join Los Blancos, bringing an end to his long association with the club where he rose through the academy to become one of its most successful graduates.
During his time at Anfield, Alexander-Arnold helped Liverpool win two Premier League titles and the Champions League, building a remarkable legacy with his boyhood club.
However, he decided to pursue a new challenge in Spain, believing that joining Real Madrid would provide the perfect opportunity to take his career to another level.
So far, however, his experience at the Santiago Bernabéu has not unfolded as expected.
The 28-year-old has found regular playing time difficult to come by, with fierce competition for places limiting his opportunities to impress.
Alexander-Arnold has managed just 344 minutes across six appearances in all competitions this season, starting only three matches. Although he has demonstrated his quality in flashes, he continues to face uncertainty over his place in the team.
Now, another disappointing night could be on the cards for the former Liverpool defender.
According to Mundo Deportivo, Jose Mourinho has already settled on his starting lineup for Real Madrid’s El Clasico clash against Barcelona at the Camp Nou tonight.
The report claims that Federico Valverde is expected to retain his position at right-back. This is despite the possibility of using Denzel Dumfries in defence and allowing the Uruguayan midfielder to operate further forward.
Such a decision would leave Alexander-Arnold facing another frustrating wait for his chance, with Mourinho seemingly favouring alternative options ahead of one of Spanish football’s biggest matches.
There are also questions surrounding Real Madrid’s central defensive partnership. However, Ibrahima Konate is reportedly expected to start, with Antonio Rudiger tipped to partner the former Liverpool centre-back.
That could leave Dean Huijsen among the substitutes, adding another selection twist ahead of the highly anticipated encounter.
For Alexander-Arnold, the situation could be particularly frustrating. While his former Liverpool teammate Konate appears set to play a significant role, the right-back may once again have to settle for a place on the bench.
The reported Real Madrid starting lineup is Lunin; Valverde, Rudiger, Konate, Cucurella; Bernardo Silva, Tchouameni; Arda Guler, Bellingham, Diomande; and Mbappe.
With Mourinho reportedly having made his selection, Alexander-Arnold will have to wait and see whether he gets an opportunity to make an impact during the game.
However, spending another major fixture on the bench is unlikely to have been part of his plans when he decided to leave Liverpool for Real Madrid.
His situation serves as another reminder that moving to a bigger club does not always guarantee greater success or more playing time.
For a player who once played such an important role at Anfield, life in Spain is proving to be a much tougher challenge than he might have imagined.
