Trent Alexander-Arnold left Liverpool for Real Madrid last year, but his dream move didn’t go as planned, with reports claiming that replacing Xabi Alonso with Alvaro Arbeloa hasn’t helped things.
Trent Alexander-Arnold is struggling at Real Madrid (Image: David S. Bustamante/Real Madrid via Getty Images)
Danny Murphy says Liverpool cannot even consider bringing Trent Alexander-Arnold back to the club after his move to Real Madrid failed. Alexander-Arnold has reportedly been told by Real manager Alvaro Arbeloa that he is not in his plans and could leave the club in the summer.
The right-back has only been in the Spanish capital for half the season, but things are already not going to plan. Alexander-Arnold caused controversy last year when he decided to leave his boyhood club and take on a new challenge at Real.
He joined for £10m ahead of the Club World Cup in the summer, but the 2025/26 season was plagued by injuries and he only made 11 appearances in all competitions. Arbeloa have recently used Fede Valverde at right-back, with veteran Dani Carvajal also returning from injury.
According to Spanish reports, Arbeloa spoke with Alexander-Arnold and explained that it was not part of his long-term plans, but the proposal was later rejected. This has opened up the possibility of a return to the Premier League, but former Liverpool midfielder Murphy said it would not be possible at Anfield.
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Asked if he would be welcomed back to Liverpool, Murphy told BestBettingSites: “No. I think it would be difficult to sell that to the fans.” “Also, not many players return to their previous club and have success. Succession plans have to be about moving the team forward and evolving. So, no, I don’t think that would work.”
Despite his controversial departure last year, Alexander-Arnold was given a fitting farewell by Liverpool fans after making 354 appearances in May. “He got what he deserved. I’m very happy for him and everyone inside and outside the club for how things worked out,” Arne Slott said at the time.
“It was great when the fans were together. How great they were before, during and after the Tottenham game. I don’t think we’ll see any more special celebrations than we saw four weeks ago.”
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Trent Alexander-Arnold is yet to establish himself at Real Madrid (Image: Getty Images)
“I don’t think there are many celebrations like today. It’s no surprise to me that they (the fans) were as good today as they were against Trent, as they have been throughout the season.”
Alexander-Arnold is currently sidelined with a thigh injury linked to a hamstring problem, raising questions about not only his status at Real but also his chances of being included in England’s squad for this summer’s World Cup. He was left out of the squad by manager Thomas Tuchel in November and faces an uphill battle to feature even if he is fit.
“It’s my job now to be in contact with all the players, players like Trent,” Tuchel said at the time, after appointing Alexander-Arnold’s former Liverpool teammate Jarrell Quansah as his replacement. “We want to reach out to the 55, 60 players who are on our longlist, get in touch with them and explain why they haven’t been here.
“Explain to them what they have to do and where they can improve. Can they do something or is it just a choice? So this is my job for the next few weeks and months.”
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