Trent Alexander-Arnold left Liverpool in the summer of 2025 to join Real Madrid in a deal reportedly worth €10 million, allowing him to play in the Club World Cup before his Liverpool contract ran out. He spent 20 years at his boyhood club, where he became one of Europe’s best right-backs. Under manager Jurgen Klopp, he won many trophies, including the Champions League and the Premier League.
When he moved to Spain on a six-year deal, he said he wanted to win the Ballon d’Or. However, his first year in Madrid was very difficult. Because of repeated injuries and a new manager, Jose Mourinho, he has spent a lot of time on the substitute bench.
Rumors recently linked Alexander-Arnold with a dramatic return to Liverpool. This was partly because Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola has right-back worries, as Ronald Araujo took Jeremie Frimpong’s starting spot. However, reports differ on whether Liverpool have made contact. Many fans were upset when he chose not to sign a new contract and left. On October 24, Football Insider reporter Pete O’Rourke confirmed that Alexander-Arnold is not a current target for Liverpool and there are no solid plans for a return.
Speaking on the Anfield Index podcast Media Matters, Liverpool journalist David Lynch explained why the club should think twice about re-signing the 28-year-old, arguing that a reunion risks being driven by sentiment rather than a sound transfer strategy.
“My view is that I don’t think it would be a smart decision for Liverpool to bring him back. I think it would be an emotional decision”.
Lynch said Liverpool should not try to sign Alexander-Arnold for four main reasons:
He is 28 years old.
He gets hurt too often from playing so much when young, and he costs too much money in wages.
His defense is not strong enough.
Alexander-Arnold is famous for his great passing and crossing. However, at Madrid under coach Mourinho, he is currently not a regular starter. Mourinho has been using Federico Valverde at right-back and new signing Denzel Dumfries ahead of him.
Guillem Balague reported on talkSPORT that Trent Alexander-Arnold has no intention of leaving Real Madrid in January.
“No, not in January. What he’s feeling right now is ‘Okay, it’s not my time, but it will be my time; I will prepare for my time’. That’s how he’s taking the whole thing. But there are two ahead of him in the same position (Valverde and Dumfries)… He’s certainly third, it seems. But he’s not down; he’s been told by Mourinho to keep at it, he will have his moment… He wants to succeed at Real Madrid, so he’s got no intention of leaving.”
Meanwhile, former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher commented on The Overlap:
“I’d have him back. Give him plenty of stick; I think he made a mistake. I think he made a big mistake. But, as I said, if something benefits Liverpool Football Club going forward… And when you think of the problems Liverpool have in terms of the right-back. Ronnie has been fantastic, but we do have a problem in terms of full-backs passing. We’ve definitely missed his creativity.”
Coming up next, Real Madrid play newly promoted Racing Santander this Sunday. Alexander-Arnold needs to play well to keep his spot on Thomas Tuchel’s England team for the November games. People close to him told The Athletic that he is ignoring rumors about leaving and wants to stay and fight for his spot in Spain.
