Xabi Alonso admits Trent Alexander-Arnold not guaranteed Real Madrid start - ‘Not going to be about being fair’
Published 18/08/2025 at 16:15 GMT+1
Xabi Alonso has admitted that Trent Alexander-Arnold is not guaranteed to start for Real Madrid, with Dani Carvajal returning to fitness after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament last season. Alexander-Arnold's arrival from Liverpool was Real's most high-profile piece of business this summer, but he may have to split game time with the Spaniard, who came fourth in the Ballon d'Or last year.
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Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso has refused to pick out either Trent Alexander-Arnold or Dani Carvajal as his first-choice right-back.
Alexander-Arnold was Madrid’s marquee signing of the summer, having arrived from Liverpool for £8.5 million after the Spanish side paid to end his contract early so he could play in the FIFA Club World Cup.
But with Carvajal returning to fitness, having missed the majority of last season after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament in October, the Englishman’s place in Alonso’s first-choice side is no guarantee.
"It's not going to be about being fair or unfair, I'll just have to divide what's there," said Alonso.
"I have many positions double-covered. This is one of those, with two exceptional players.
"Carva, who's been training hard and is much closer to his original level by now, and Trent, from Liverpool. That's amazing for improving the level of the squad.
"We're going to be playing tons of games and we need to have that top level."
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Alexander-Arnold started in five of Real’s six matches at the Club World Cup, before missing their semi-final defeat against Paris Saint-Germain through injury.
He returned to the side for their friendly against Tirol last week and will be fit to start in their first La Liga match of the season on Tuesday, as they host Osasuna at the Bernabeu.
Carvajal, who finished fourth in last year’s Ballon d’Or, has made just two substitute appearances since returning from his ACL injury.
Real Madrid will be desperate for a more fruitful campaign after finishing last season without any silverware, as Barcelona won the domestic treble.
It could be a new-look defence for Los Blancos this time around, with the arrivals of Dean Huijsen from Bournemouth and Alvaro Carreras from Benfica adding to the signing of Alexander-Arnold and the return to fitness of Carvajal.
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Real’s clash with Osasuna will be Alonso’s first taste of La Liga since departing as a player in 2014, and he has admitted feeling "anxious" ahead of his return to the Spanish league.
The former Bayer Leverkusen boss said: "My role is different now, and I'm a bit anxious.
"I'm so motivated and I can't wait to feel that connection with the fans again. Time's gone by, but I've always felt that connection was still alive everywhere I've been, despite the time.
"Well, I'm not ready, but come what may, whatever my feelings are, I'm just happy to be back."
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