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Trent Alexander-Arnold's move to Real Madrid has encountered difficulties in recent months.
The defender announced his Liverpool departure shortly before his contract ran out in the summer, bringing to an end his two-decade association with the Reds dating back to his youth team days. The news disappointed Liverpool fans, with many commentators doubting the wisdom of his decision.
Now, months after the switch was finalized, the furore surrounding the move is starting to die down, with focus shifting to how the 27-year-old will fare in La Liga. Alexander-Arnold has had a disrupted start to his Madrid career, sitting out multiple matches after sustaining a hamstring injury early in his spell at the Spanish club.
Since his comeback, there has been hope that he can establish his form and contribute to Madrid's pursuit of honors in both domestic and European competitions. Yet, not all appears well at the Spanish powerhouse, with reports suggesting discontent is brewing.
The Athletic has revealed that Vinicius Jr. has told the club he will not sign a new contract amid a "strained" relationship with boss Xabi Alonso.
Reports indicate that a pivotal discussion occurred between the Brazilian forward and Madrid president Florentino Perez last month, after talks regarding a new deal stalled. Vinicius, with only 18 months remaining on his current contract, has sparked a flurry of speculation about his future at the Santiago Bernabeu.
This situation puts the club's leadership in a tricky spot as they ponder whether the relationship can be mended or if they will have to choose between backing Alonso or their star player.
This also puts Alexander-Arnold in a challenging position, especially if Real Madrid's internal strife leads to key players being sold off in the near future.
Alexander-Arnold made his return from injury against his former team, Liverpool, in the Champions League, where he was met with a barrage of boos during his nine-minute stint on the pitch.
The right-back then managed another seven minutes before the international break, before playing the full 90 minutes in a 2-2 draw with Elche at the weekend.
Despite apparent tensions at Madrid, Alonso maintained that Alexander-Arnold has been working hard to regain his place in the team.
Ahead of Madrid's match against Elche, Alonso stated: "In this [international] break, we've worked with Trent, collectively and individually, after the injuries he had.
"Trent being in better form gives us more options in that position, and we have other players, too.
"Fede [Valverde] is still there and can play at right-back, but Trent is in good shape now. [Eder] Militao played right-back with Brazil the other day, and Raul [Asencio] can play there too. We have several options."
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