Trent Alexander-Arnold benched on return as Real Madrid star facing summer exit

Former Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold returned from injury as a substitute for Real Madrid in the team's 2-0 win over Valencia, with Dani Carvajal left out of the matchday squad

Trent Alexander-Arnold has struggled at Real Madrid so far(Image: Getty Images)

Trent Alexander-Arnold could be in line to secure the first-choice right-back position at Real Madrid.

The 26-year-old departed Liverpool last summer for the Spanish champions on a permanent transfer, finalized just weeks before his Anfield contract was set to run out. However, Alexander-Arnold's maiden campaign at the Santiago Bernabeu has been hampered by fitness issues, limiting him to only 12 outings in all competitions.

On Sunday, Alexander-Arnold returned from a hamstring problem, coming off the bench in Madrid's 2-0 La Liga victory against Valencia. Caretaker boss Alvaro Arbeloa selected youth product David Jimenez to start at right-back, with Alexander-Arnold among the substitutes as he worked his way back to full fitness.

Madrid icon Dani Carvajal was omitted from the matchday squad entirely by Arbeloa, with The Athletic reporting that the defender was deeply unhappy about his exclusion.

Carvajal is said to have been frustrated at missing out on the Valencia fixture, showing visible annoyance during post-match training drills.

Despite his reported dissatisfaction at being left out of Madrid's most recent fixture, Carvajal remains committed to maintaining his training intensity as his current deal nears its conclusion. Carvajal's contract at the Bernabeu runs out at the end of the campaign, with the 34-year-old having only just returned from a knee problem a few weeks back.

Dani Carvajal is poised to leave Real Madrid(Image: Getty Images)

Although Arbeloa opted to leave Carvajal out of the matchday squad, the caretaker Madrid manager justified his choice while highlighting the defender's value in the changing room.

"I'll be very clear. I'm seeing Dani improve in training day by day. Gradually," Arbeloa said on Sunday.

"Obviously, I'm not going to take any risks. When we had days off, he was at Valdebebas working. Inside the dressing room, I don't need to explain the importance of Dani. He's the one who always has something to say before and after matches.

"On the day of Rayo [Vallecano], today, you always hear him. It's very important for the players to have a reference like him in the dressing room, and I'm sure he's going to find his best form.

"With the patience and effort we're putting in and his dedication, I'm confident that he's getting closer to regaining his relevance."

With Carvajal's situation growing more unclear as his deal approaches its conclusion, the door may be opening for Alexander-Arnold to establish himself as Madrid's first-choice right-back.

Following Alexander-Arnold's return to action at the weekend, Arbeloa outlined why Madrid continues to manage his fitness carefully. "As for Trent, after being out for a long time, we are taking the same approach with him as we will with others returning from injury," Arbeloa stated.

"We are proceeding cautiously and calmly because what we want is for him to find his rhythm, his best playing form, and that's how it will be with Trent."