Mourinho admits sadness over Alexander-Arnold's Real Madrid struggles as exit talk grows

Jose Mourinho has admitted that Trent Alexander-Arnold’s limited role at Real Madrid leaves him feeling ‘sad’, while stopping short of ruling out a potential exit for the England international in January.

Alexander-Arnold, 28, has managed just three La Liga starts this season since joining Madrid in a £10 million move last summer. Having already played second fiddle to Dani Carvajal in his debut campaign, the former Liverpool right-back has faced further competition after Mourinho signed Denzel Dumfries in the summer window. Most recently, the Portuguese manager has opted to deploy midfielder Federico Valverde at right-back in wins against Sevilla and Barcelona, pushing Alexander-Arnold further down the pecking order.

Speaking ahead of Madrid’s trip to Racing Santander on Sunday, Mourinho was asked directly whether he would understand if Alexander-Arnold chose to leave. “I want players to feel good,” he said. “When you build a squad with two players per position and you end up playing a third player, that makes me sad, but some things are better for the team.”

Mourinho was keen to stress that the decision to play Valverde was tactical rather than personal. “I saw that the time had come to make a change in midfield and field Valverde, and my thinking was focused on the interest of the team, not on the players’ calculations,” he explained. “When I explained to Trent and Dumfries that the decision was not directed against either of them, but rather came to serve the team, I received a positive reaction from both of them.”

The 63-year-old confirmed Valverde will not start against Racing Santander, though he declined to specify whether Alexander-Arnold or Dumfries would get the nod. He also pushed back on the notion that either player is actively seeking a way out. “I do not think either of them will ask me to let him go,” Mourinho said.

Alexander-Arnold’s move to the Bernabéu was one of the most high-profile transfers of last summer, arriving on a free transfer after his Liverpool contract expired. His struggles to establish himself as a regular starter have raised questions about whether the switch was the right call at this stage of his career, with reports suggesting a return to Merseyside could be considered if his situation does not improve.