Struggling Real Madrid defender has no intention of leaving in January despite limited opportunities – Romano

Struggling Real Madrid defender has no intention of leaving in January despite limited opportunities – Romano One of the major tactical tweaks Jose Mourinho has made in recent weeks is his decision to move captain Fede Valverde to right-back. It is a move that has worked wonders for Los Blancos , strengthening them in both defence and midfield and making them look a more rounded side. However, every decision comes with its own consequences, and Valverde’s move to right-back has seen Trent Alexander-Arnold drop to third in the pecking order. Trent had already been finding it very difficult to get into the team ahead of Denzel Dumfries, and he now has another obstacle in his way. However, according to Fabrizio Romano, speaking to DAZN Football , the defender has no intention of leaving the Santiago Bernabeu midway through the season. Alexander-Arnold determined to stay at Real Madrid The 28-year-old is keen to stay in the Spanish capital and fight for playing time throughout the season. Romano has confirmed that neither the club nor the player has any intention of parting ways in January . The journalist has also poured cold water on suggestions that the Englishman could make a sensational return to Liverpool. Alexander-Arnold is not planning to leave Real Madrid in January. (Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images) The English club have held no negotiations with Trent as things stand, and a return in the winter transfer window is not on the cards. Alexander-Arnold is under contract with Los Blancos until 2031, so neither party needs to make an immediate decision. Despite his frustrations over a lack of playing time, the England international is keen to succeed at Real Madrid. Mourinho’s tactical decisions present a challenge Alexander-Arnold has had a rather difficult time since moving to Real Madrid at the beginning of last season. Injuries and inconsistent form prevented him from establishing himself properly last season and also saw him miss out on a World Cup berth. Trent has struggled for game time since his move to Real Madrid . (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images) Once Mourinho arrived, Trent showed signs of improvement, but when the new season began, Dumfries emerged as the manager’s clear favourite. The Portuguese tactician even tried Trent out in midfield for a solitary game against Inter Milan and claimed that he would never do it again. All this has meant that Trent has gone from being a Premier League superstar to a fringe player at Real Madrid. It remains to be seen whether he can convince Mourinho to give him more playing time in the coming months. If not, a separation feels inevitable in the summer, though how things play out remains to be seen.