Xabi Alonso Doubtful Over Trent Alexander-Arnold’s Fitness Ahead of Juventus Clash
Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso has admitted that Trent Alexander-Arnold is unlikely to be fit in time for Wednesday’s Champions League encounter with Juventus, despite the defender’s recent return to training.
The former Liverpool vice-captain has missed Madrid’s last six matches due to a hamstring injury and is still working his way back to full fitness.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference on Tuesday, Alonso revealed that a clearer update on Alexander-Arnold’s recovery will be provided on Saturday, just a day before Madrid’s highly anticipated El Clásico clash with Barcelona.
Real Madrid are scheduled to face Liverpool at Anfield in two weeks, a fixture that has been tentatively marked as the right-back’s potential return against his boyhood club. Alexander-Arnold sustained the hamstring injury in mid-September against Marseille, casting early doubts over his availability, though optimism remains that he could recover in time for that meeting.
“We’re taking it day by day,” Alonso said. “Both Trent and Carvajal have been back in training, but for tomorrow’s match, I don’t think either will be ready.”
Should Alexander-Arnold miss the Juventus game, he would have just two matches to regain fitness ahead of the Liverpool trip — Sunday’s El Clásico against Barcelona and the following weekend’s fixture against Valencia.
Since arriving at Madrid, the England international has made only five appearances, three of which came as late substitutions. He started two of Madrid’s first four league games, while Dani Carvajal featured in the other two.
During his final season at Liverpool, Alexander-Arnold endured a stop-start campaign, featuring just five times off the bench in the Premier League but making 49 appearances in total across all competitions despite persistent ankle and hamstring issues.
