Xabi Alonso believes Trent Alexander-Arnold is unlikely to recover in time for Real Madrid’s Champions League clash with Juventus on Wednesday. The former Liverpool vice-captain has returned to training but has been sidelined for the past six matches due to a hamstring injury.
Speaking at Tuesday’s pre-match press conference, Alonso confirmed that a final update on Alexander-Arnold’s fitness would come on Saturday — a day before Madrid face Barcelona in El Clasico.
Real Madrid are set to visit Liverpool at Anfield in two weeks, a fixture highlighted as Alexander-Arnold’s potential return to his boyhood club. The hamstring problem he picked up against Marseille in mid-September had initially cast doubt over his availability, though the England defender is expected to be fit in time.
“We’re taking it day by day,” Alonso explained. “Trent and Carvajal have been training, but for tomorrow, I don’t think they’ll be ready.”
If Alexander-Arnold misses the Juventus match, he’ll have only two opportunities to regain match fitness before Madrid’s trip to Anfield — Sunday’s El Clasico against Barcelona and the following week’s game versus Valencia.
Since joining Madrid, Alexander-Arnold has made just five appearances, with three of those coming as late substitutes. He started two of their first four league fixtures, while Dani Carvajal featured in the other two.
Last season at Liverpool, Alexander-Arnold made only five Premier League appearances off the bench but still featured in 49 matches across all competitions, despite struggling with ankle and hamstring issues during his final campaign at Anfield.
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