Real Madrid’s new manager Alvaro Arbeloa has told Trent Alexander-Arnold he should find a new club in the summer, according to reports in Spain.
The Englishman has endured a difficult spell in the Spanish capital after joining at the expiration of his Liverpool contract six months ago.
His time in LaLiga 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.
The Scouser retained the backing of Xabi Alonso, who insisted he was a ‘top player’, El Nacional reports that Alexander-Arnold has ‘no future’ at the club under new boss Arbeloa.
The duo are understood to have 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, reportedly told the full-back to leave ‘for his own good’. He cited the former Liverpool star’s poor defensive work rate and unsatisfactory attacking output as reasons why he has fallen out of favour.
If the report is true, it leaves Alexander-Arnold’s hopes of regaining the trust of England manager Thomas Tuchel in tatters.
He has featured just once since the German’s appointment and, unless his form improves drastically, is unlikely to be included in the Three Lions’ squad for this summer’s World Cup in North America.
Alexander-Arnold 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 eleven.
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 LaLiga 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 Bayern Munich 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.
But Cadena SER reports that Arbeloa has been described as ‘direct and approachable’, leaving the team with clarity heading into fixtures.
Los Blancos face Villareal in LaLiga on Saturday evening. They currently sit second in the table, just one point behind Barcelona.
