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By GETHIN HICKS, SPORTS REPORTER Published: 00: 46 AEDT, 24 January 2026 | Updated: 03: 49 AEDT, 24 January 2026 274 View comments Trent Alexander-Arnold has not been told to leave Real Madrid, despite reports in Spain that manager Alvaro Arbeloa has urged him to find a a new club in the summer. The Englishman has endured a difficult spell at Los Blancos after joining at the expiration of his Liverpool contract six months ago. His time in La Liga has been blighted by injuries, with Alexander-Arnold registering just a solitary assist and not scoring in any of his 11 appearances in all competitions this campaign. The defender retained the backing of Xabi Alonso, who insisted he was a 'top player', but El Nacional reported on Friday that Alexander-Arnold has 'no future' at the club under new boss Arbeloa. The duo, it was reported, sat down for a 'frank conversation' this week as the 27-year-old continues his recovery from a muscle injury. Arbeloa, appointed as Alonso's successor just a couple of weeks ago, was said to have told the full-back to leave 'for his own good'. However, Daily Mail Sport understands there is no truth to the claims. Trent Alexander-Arnold has reportedly been told he is free to leave Real Madrid when the summer transfer window rolls around New Los Blancos manager Alvaro Arbeloa reportedly delivered the verdict this week during a 'frank conversation' with the defender Alexander-Arnold has featured just once for England since Thomas Tuchel's appointment and is facing a fight to be included in the Three Lions' squad for this summer's World Cup in North America. He is expected to return from the injury he suffered last month in February and will need to displace club captain Dani Carvajal if he is to earn his place back in Madrid's starting XI. Arbeloa's reign at the Bernabeu has got off to a mixed start after he replaced Alonso following the club's Super Cup defeat to Barcelona on January 11. Having lost his first game in embarrassing fashion to La Liga 2 minnows Albecete, the ex-Liverpool star has won his next two with the latest coming as Madrid thrashed Monaco 6-1 in the Champions League on Tuesday evening. He is understood to have eased tensions in the Madrid camp which had been brewing under Alonso before his sacking. Spanish papers reported that up to five players were thought to have been unhappy with the former Bayer Leverkusen manager's methods, including Thibaut Courtois, Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Jr. Vinicius in particular appeared less than pleased under the Alonso regime and, after being substituted in El Clasico in late October, was far from shy in venting his frustrations. Is Alexander-Arnold being treated fairly at Real Madrid? His time in La Liga has been blighted by injuries, with Alexander-Arnold registering just a solitary assist and not scoring in any of 11 appearances in all competitions this campaign But Cadena SER reports that Arbeloa has been described as 'direct and approachable', leaving the team with clarity heading into fixtures. Los Blancos face Villarreal in La Liga on Saturday evening. They currently sit second in the table, one point behind arch-rivals Barcelona.
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