Real Madrid are reportedly open to adding a new right-back after Trent Alexander-Arnold's move to the Spanish giants 'hasn't quite lived up to expectations', according to the Spanish press.
Difficult Debut Season
The former Liverpool star made the switch to the Bernabeu last summer, with Los Blancos paying a £10 million premium to secure his signature ahead of his contract expiring. Alexander-Arnold opted to leave his boyhood club and became Madrid's latest Galactico signing, but questions over his defensive abilities have persisted despite his brilliance and creativity in the final third.
Injuries have plagued Alexander-Arnold during his debut campaign, limiting him to 30 appearances and five assists in all competitions. He was recently left out of Thomas Tuchel's England squad for the World Cup, with Spanish outlet Marca suggesting this highlights flaws in Real's full-back ranks and that new arrivals are on the club's radar.
Marca wrote: "The Englishman arrived at Real Madrid as a strategic signing with star status, but even that hasn't guaranteed him a place with his national team. His attacking talent remains undeniable, although defensive doubts continue to plague him in England. For Real Madrid, the situation offers a different interpretation. Their signing for the right-back position hasn't quite lived up to expectations."
Reinforcements Sought
Real Madrid are set to see stalwart Dani Carvajal, a six-time Champions League winner, leave the Bernabeu. Carvajal had been competing with Alexander-Arnold for a starting berth, and reinforcements are now being sought to fill the void.
It has been an embarrassing week for Real Madrid, as none of their full-backs made their respective national teams ahead of the World Cup. Left-backs Fran Garcia and Alvaro Carreras both missed out on Spain's squad, while Ferland Mendy failed to make France's team after another injury-hit campaign. Alexander-Arnold was overlooked by England.
Remarkably, the Spanish squad—seeking to back up their Euro triumph with another World Cup success—features no players from Real Madrid. Centre-half Dean Huijsen was also snubbed by Luis de la Fuente. The Spain coach said: "I don't look at one club or another. I don't have that local bias a fan might have. For me, it's more global. The only thing I want is for these footballers to feel proud of representing the national team."
