Balague: Alexander-Arnold not interested in Liverpool

Until 2031, Trent Alexander‑Arnold remains contractually bound to Real Madrid, but this season he has only logged 345 minutes across all competitions. Despite limited appearances, Spanish transfer expert Guillem Balague says the English international is not interested in a return to Liverpool.

Balague told Teamtalk that Alexander‑Arnold is indeed thinking about his sporting future, but currently has no intention of returning to his former club. “He’s thinking ‘Okay, it’s not my time yet, but it will come. I’m preparing for that’,” Balague quoted the player. The comment disappointed many Liverpool fans who had hoped for a return.

Third choice behind two competitors

According to Balague, Alexander‑Arnold is behind two rivals for his position, making him the third choice. He added that Eder Militao was already deployed as a right‑back against Sevilla, further altering the hierarchy. Thus he is not the fourth, but clearly the third option for Mourinho.

Last season, injuries hampered Alexander‑Arnold’s integration, forcing him to share playing time with Fede Valverde and Dani Carvajal. During that period he only accumulated minutes sporadically, which stalled his development at the club. The limited game time is reflected in the 345 minutes he has logged so far.

Mourinho prefers Valverde in the Clasico

After Carvajal’s departure, Real Madrid signed Inter Milan full‑back Denzel Dumfries. The transfer added another top defender to the squad, but Mourinho did not field him in the Clasico against FC Barcelona. Instead he preferred midfielder Fede Valverde on the right side of defence.

In the Clasico Mourinho chose neither Dumfries nor Alexander‑Arnold, instead letting Valverde take the role. This decision showed that the coach is not yet ready to deploy Alexander‑Arnold permanently. The Portuguese manager, however, emphasized that the young Englishman should be patient.

Balague reported that Mourinho told Alexander‑Arnold to stay focused and seize his moments. “He wants to establish himself at Real Madrid, so he has no intention of leaving the club,” the expert summarized. The player therefore shows determination despite limited playing time.

Alexander‑Arnold remains under contract with Real Madrid until 2031 and has already earned 36 caps for England. National team manager Thomas Tuchel, however, did not select him for the World Cup last summer. Thus his international future remains uncertain.

The case illustrates how big clubs sign players who then have to fight for minutes, while fans cling to hopes of a return to former clubs. Such situations shape the transfer market, where contractual security does not automatically guarantee regular appearances.