The Right-Back Conundrum: Alonso's Real Madrid Faces a Backline Breakdown

Backline Troubles at Real Madrid

Real Madrid's head coach Xabi Alonso faces a fresh headache at the right-back position, driven by a streak of injuries and instability in the starting lineup, signaling a clear confidence crisis with his players.

The champions find themselves constrained at this vital spot, needing stability before upcoming fixtures and hoping for a dependable option to anchor the defense.

As noted by the Spanish press, when things go wrong, they often begin where the highest expectations rest—that's the case for Real Madrid at right-back.

On paper, this should be a position of depth with three high-quality options and prestige, but Alonso has to juggle reality: Dani Carvajal is out with a knee problem, Federico Valverde has been pressed into emergency duty, and fatigue has pushed him to miss ten days during the break.

Trent Alexander-Arnold has only recently been cleared medically and returned to competition, yet Alonso remains cautious about giving him a starting berth amid lingering trust issues, a dynamic reinforced by Madrid's goalless draw with Rayo Vallecano.

Arnold had been cleared and was prepared to contribute, but the lineup remained conservative, with him entering the fray only in specific moments, and the club continues to evaluate his fit on the right flank.

Earlier, Alonso explained that the Valverde situation was more about a positional balance than a direct knock at Arnold, clarifying that injuries elsewhere shaped the decision to bring him on during matches and offering a cautious timetable for his return to peak form.

In particular, Valverde is dealing with a strain in the hamstring area of the right leg, a detail noted by the club and press alike, with the aim of preventing a longer-term setback.

This time around, unlike Anfield, Madrid could not dodge the injury blow, and Valverde left the pitch with a visible worry, the specter of a minor tear lingering, though an initial assessment suggested about a ten-day layoff, a development that oddly helps avoid long-haul travel with Uruguay.

Speaking to the media in Bilbao, Alonso added that the break would be useful for Arnold to recover and regain peak fitness, with the understanding that he won’t be rushing anyone back before they are truly ready.

The newspaper noted that, even now, Alonso's handling of the English full-back continues to surprise within the club, highlighted by a late substitution at Anfield and the decision not to start him against Vallecano.

A closer look shows Arnold did not feature in the Clasico (his first call-up since an injury against Marseille on Sept. 16) and he didn’t feature versus Valencia despite being named in the squad; at Anfield he came on in the 81st minute, while in Vayaika he played eight minutes.

The report suggests that with Carvajal out, Alonso remains hesitant to rely on Arnold as a starter, and the coach has yet to unlock the full potential of the player.

A Remarkable Career

Trent Alexander-Arnold stands out as one of the Liverpool academy’s brightest talents in the past decade, a symbol of a new generation of full-backs who combine defensive solidity with attacking vision and crossing prowess.

Born on October 8, 1998, in Liverpool, he grew up loving the club and joined the academy at age six, beginning a long journey of development within the Melwood grounds.

From early stages, Arnold drew attention for tactical intelligence and precise set-pieces, earning interest from coaches across youth levels.

In 2016, under German manager Jürgen Klopp, the teenager earned his first-team breakthrough, making his debut in the League Cup against Tottenham Hotspur before establishing himself in the starting XI.

The real breakout came in the 2017-2018 season, when he cemented himself as the right-back starter thanks to standout form, especially in the Champions League, helping Liverpool reach the final against Real Madrid.

Since then, Arnold has been a key figure in Klopp's system, famed for long-range passes, lethal crosses, and rapid attacking transitions.

With Liverpool, he collected historic trophies, including the 2019 UEFA Champions League and the 2019-2020 Premier League title, among others, and he set scoring-create records for a full-back in the Premier League across consecutive seasons.

Alongside his club success, Arnold became a regular in the England squad from 2018 onward, featuring in major tournaments like the 2022 World Cup and Euro 2020, proving his value even when deployed in midfield roles thanks to his exceptional football IQ.

Despite criticism at times for defensive lapses, his ability to evolve has helped him overcome doubts and persistent muscle injuries, especially in the latest Liverpool campaign, impacting his regular participation.

In the summer of 2025, Arnold made a decisive move to Real Madrid in a blockbuster deal that sparked intense debate among the Liverpool faithful, driven by a desire for a fresh challenge abroad at a club with European pedigree.

The player framed his decision as a quest for new challenges beyond England and a chance to join a club with a storied European history, a step that also allowed him to link up with England teammate Jude Bellingham and experience a new environment at the Bernabéu.

Thus, Arnold began a new chapter in his career, hoping to leave a signature at the Bernabéu as he did at Anfield.