Trent Alexander-Arnold has become Real Madrid's third right-back, relegating himself to a marginal role following the addition of Dumfries and the relocation of Fede Valverde to the wing. The English player, who arrived at the Bernabéu as a starter after the departure of Dani Carvajal, has seen his playing time decrease throughout the season, participating in only seven of the thirteen official matches and starting four times, one of them as a midfielder against Inter.
The turning point occurred on October 10, when in the match against Villarreal Trent started as a starter but was replaced in the 52nd minute by Vinicius. With the substitution, Mourinho moved Valverde to the right-back position, a decision that was repeated in the following match against Roma when the coach switched Dumfries for Valverde in search of a comeback. Since then, Alexander-Arnold has only played one minute, which was recorded in the Clásico, when he came on in the final stages to close out the victory over Barcelona.
Mourinho's new scheme, which has also seen Valverde occupy the wing and players like Diomande, Bernardo Silva and Arda Güler advance up front, has brought greater consistency to the white team. However, Alexander-Arnold's position has been affected by the muscle injury he suffered in San Mamés and by the lack of a pre-season call-up by Thomas Tuchel, which left him out of the English team.
With Valverde consolidated as right back, Real Madrid would have an empty spot in that position and a need to reinforce its squad. It is speculated that the English player could seek a return to Liverpool, where he arrived as a free agent in 2025, or look for another opportunity in the winter market. The next match against Racing could offer a new opportunity for Alexander-Arnold to return to the field, although Valverde could be in doubt due to a minor ailment after the Clásico.