Thomas Tuchel's decision to recall Trent Alexander-Arnold to the England squad has raised eyebrows given the defender's inconsistent playing time at Real Madrid this season. The England manager suggested the former Liverpool full-back had made a positive start to the campaign in Spain, a claim that has puzzled observers both in England and Madrid who have followed his limited involvement closely.
Having been left out of England's World Cup squad in the summer, Alexander-Arnold has not exactly forced his way back into contention through sustained club form. Instead, his return to the international fold comes after just two unremarkable La Liga starts, a body of evidence too thin to firmly justify either his inclusion or his previous omission.
The defender's most notable appearance this season came in a Champions League clash against Inter at the Santiago Bernabéu, though not in his customary role. With Real Madrid depleted by injuries and suspensions to Eduardo Camavinga, Arda Guler, Bernardo Silva, Aurélien Tchouaméni and Thiago Pitarch, and with manager José Mourinho preferring to deploy Jude Bellingham in advanced positions, Alexander-Arnold was asked to fill in as a central midfielder.
Mourinho avoided directly addressing the tactical switch before the match, but afterward acknowledged that he had been left with little choice. He thanked Alexander-Arnold for his effort but conceded that the demands of a midfield role, in terms of physicality and positional awareness, differ significantly from those of a full-back. The experiment, by the manager's own admission, did not go as hoped.
Tuchel, for his part, made clear that Alexander-Arnold's recall to the England squad was based on his natural position at right-back rather than any midfield experimentation. Yet even in his preferred role, the 26-year-old has struggled to establish himself as a regular starter under Mourinho, managing just 30 appearances out of 56 possible matches during his debut season at the club.
Alexander-Arnold was among a small group of players, eight in total, who reported for pre-season training with Mourinho, potentially offering him an early advantage. However, this head start has not translated into consistent selection. He began the season on the bench for Madrid's opener against Espanyol, entering only in the closing stages as the hosts secured a late win through Carlos Espí. He then missed out entirely as Madrid thrashed Real Sociedad 4-1, with newly signed Denzil Dumfries preferred at right-back in both fixtures.
A turning point appeared to arrive against promoted Málaga, where Alexander-Arnold played the full 90 minutes in a performance that drew praise from local media, with one Madrid-based outlet describing him as looking like "a new Trent." He led all players in touches and completed passes, created two chances, and set up Kylian Mbappé for Madrid's third goal in a comprehensive 4-0 victory.
That promising display, however, did not lead to sustained involvement. He was introduced as a substitute in a goalless match against Real Betis that Madrid went on to lose 1-0 courtesy of a Troy Parrott strike, playing just 26 minutes. He was left out entirely against Rayo Vallecano, and in Madrid's midweek fixture against Elche, he was substituted with three minutes remaining as a 2-0 lead had slipped to 2-2, only for another late Espí goal to rescue a point.
Across six league matches this season, Alexander-Arnold has started twice, come off the bench twice, and been left out of the matchday squad entirely twice, recording a single assist in the process. With Dumfries having made four league starts and one Champions League appearance, it appears unlikely that Alexander-Arnold will start Madrid's upcoming derby against Atlético.
Based on reporting from The Guardian.