From Ballon d’Or hopes to Real Madrid bench: Should Liverpool re-sign Alexander-Arnold?

Trent Alexander-Arnold’s Real Madrid Struggles Ignite Debate Over Liverpool’s Potential Return

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  Beth Lindop

Based in Liverpool, Beth Lindop is ESPN’s Liverpool correspondent and also covers the WSL and UWCL.

Trent Alexander-Arnold made the announcement at Liverpool’s AXA Training Centre in November 2025, revealing that he had prioritized a different career goal over his time at Anfield.

In a Sky Sports interview, the 28-year-old defender stated that while he had previously wanted to captain Liverpool or win a Champions League title, his ultimate ambition was to win the Ballon d’Or. He described his decision to leave for Real Madrid as a chance to become the first full back to achieve that accolade.

“I believe I can,” Alexander-Arnold said during the conversation. “I want to be the first full back to ever do it.”

Editorial Perspectives

The argument for bringing Trent back

One of the most compelling considerations is Alexander-Arnold’s outstanding performance at Liverpool across his five years there. He registered 64 assists in 259 Premier League appearances, a record for a defender in a single competition, and remains one of the most creative players at right back in English football.

Returning to Liverpool would also help balance the right-back positions, which this season have been dominated by Federico Valverde and new signing Denzel Dumfries. A player with the ball-winning ability and vision of Alexander-Arnold could add an immediate creative dimension to the team’s defensive structure.

However, his tenure at Real Madrid has been troubled. Since joining Barcelona on a €20 million move in the summer of 2025, he has started only eight out of twenty-four games, receiving minimal playing time compared to his Liverpool peak. Injuries have compounded the issue, and his fit between the Portuguese manager’s tactical system and his own playing style has proven difficult.

Mourinho has acknowledged the decision was team-oriented and not personal to him, preferring the more dynamic play of Denzel Dumfries and Federico Valverde over Alexander-Arnold’s more traditional right-back profile.

There are also concerns about his future at Real Madrid. With his €12 million exit fee already accounted for and limited playing time, a return to Liverpool would require significant investment both financially and in terms of integrating him into a new squad hierarchy under Arne Slot.

Trent Alexander-Arnold is now trailing Federico Valverde and Denzel Dumfries in the pecking order at right back.

His potential return to Liverpool would address a pressing need in midfield transitions, particularly in creating chances for the forward line. His ability to deliver pinpoint crosses from the right side could complement the attacking trio led by Alexander Isak.

Financial considerations remain a major hurdle. The transfer fee at Real Madrid was a relatively small sum given his academy pedigree, making a return costly for Liverpools finances with limited profit to show for it.

Explore the Full Story

ESPN offers comprehensive coverage of the player’s journey across both clubs, including tactical analysis of his performances and reactions from his teammates and management.

If you enjoyed this in-depth look at the Alexander-Arnold saga, check back as the situation develops.

Whether Liverpool can attract the defender back is now a question of balancing his legacy with the pressing need for more attacking options. The 2028 Euros and upcoming Champions League tournament will be crucial for his career, and his potential return could define his final chapter in the Premier League.

For fans, the possibility of seeing their hero reinstate his creative influence at Anfield remains a tantalizing prospect, especially after his remarkable contribution at both Liverpool and Real Madrid.

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