Trent Alexander-Arnold has been sent a stark warning that he may not be first choice at Real Madrid under incoming manager Jose Mourinho, with the club closing in on a deal for Inter Milan right-back Denzel Dumfries.
The former Liverpool full-back endured a mixed debut season in Spain following his move from Anfield last summer. Injuries and inconsistent form hampered his campaign at the Santiago Bernabeu, leading to his omission from Thomas Tuchel's England squad for the 2026 World Cup.
Now, with Mourinho set to return to Real Madrid and Dumfries poised to join, Alexander-Arnold faces increased competition. Mourinho travelled from Lisbon to Madrid on Wednesday to finalise his return, with his contract officially starting in July. Meanwhile, Real have triggered the £17.3 million release clause in Dumfries' Inter contract, with the Dutchman expected to sign a four-year deal.
Hasselbaink: Mourinho prefers defenders who defend first
Former Premier League striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink believes Dumfries could become first choice under Mourinho. Speaking to 10bet, he said: "If it's Jose Mourinho, it is most likely that his chances are really big because Mourinho likes his defenders to defend first. We all know Trent's quality, but Trent's quality is going forward. So in a sense, if it is Mourinho, I think Dumfries will play quite a bit."
However, Hasselbaink added that having two different types of right-backs could be a luxury for Mourinho, allowing tactical flexibility. "I still think that Trent will get a lot of game time. But yeah, there's competition, and that's normal at a big club," he said.
Neville concerned by Alexander-Arnold's England snub
Gary Neville also weighed in on Alexander-Arnold's situation, expressing concern over his omission from England's World Cup squad. "I think he can live with Reece and Kyle being in the squad, because they are two exceptional full-backs," Neville told Rio Ferdinand. "But now, when you have Konsa playing in front of you and Livramento. It's now Gareth Southgate, Thomas Tuchel. Are they both wrong?"
Neville questioned whether England are mishandling a generational talent, but acknowledged that World Cups are often won by teams with strong defences. Alexander-Arnold made 30 appearances for Real Madrid last season, competing with Dani Carvajal for the starting spot. With Carvajal's contract not renewed, the arrival of Dumfries and Mourinho's defensive priorities could further challenge his position.
