Arnold's marginalisation opens the door for his departure from Real Madrid

Alexander Arnold's status at Real Madrid has diminished as he has become the third choice for the right-back position, following José Mourinho's decision to rely on Fede Valverde in that role. This opens the door for the possibility of his departure in January.

According to "Mundo Deportivo", Arnold has participated in only 7 matches out of 13 official games this season, starting 4 of them. He missed 6 matches and has only played for one minute during the last four encounters.

The turning point came against Villarreal on October 10, when Arnold was substituted in the 52nd minute, allowing Mourinho to bring on Valverde at right-back. He also bolstered his options by signing Denzel Dumfries, making the English player the third choice in that position.

The newspaper reported that Arnold hoped for a bigger role this season, after struggling with instability and a muscle injury in his first season, but his appearances have gradually declined as the competitions progressed.

This situation could lead to movements in the winter transfer market, particularly with the possibility of Valverde continuing at right-back. Meanwhile, speculation has begun in England regarding Arnold's return to Liverpool, from which he left as a free agent in the summer of 2025.

The English full-back may get a chance to play against Racing, as Valverde is struggling with a minor injury sustained after the Clasico, putting him in doubt for Sunday's match.