Real Madrid News
Real Madrid defender faces a make-or-break moment to save his World Cup dream
Real Madrid defender Trent Alexander-Arnold is entering a crucial phase of his season, with his place in the England national football team under serious threat.
According to a report from AS, it has come to light that the right-back will use the final five La Liga matches to try and force his way into the World Cup squad, a challenge that looks difficult, but not impossible.
At this stage, the situation, at least on the surface, is simple for Alexander-Arnold. He needs to perform, and he needs to do it now.
There is no room for mistakes, no extra time to prove himself. These next few matches will decide whether he stays in the conversation or falls out completely.
Strong role at Real Madrid
There is at least one positive for the Englishman, that, at Real Madrid, he has been given a clear role.
Under Alvaro Arbeloa, he is now the preferred option at right-back ahead of Dani Carvajal.
That trust gives him the platform he needs, but it also increases the pressure, as every performance will be closely watched, not just in Spain but also by the England staff.
His situation with England has been far from smooth. Since joining Real Madrid, Alexander-Arnold has struggled to stay in the national team picture.
Out of six recent squads, he has only been included once. That lack of continuity has made it harder for him to build momentum at the international level.
Bad luck with Tuchel
When Thomas Tuchel took charge of England in January 2025, Alexander-Arnold missed the first squad due to injury.
He returned for the next selection, but that proved to be his last appearance in the squad for a while.
Injuries again disrupted his chances, including a hamstring problem that kept him out during an important period.
More recently, the signs have been worrying, as he was left out of the November squad and, more importantly, also missed the March selection.
That double omission has pushed him further down the pecking order and made his task even harder.
Now, everything comes down to these final fixtures. Real Madrid will face Espanyol, Barcelona, Real Oviedo, Sevilla and Athletic Club. Five games, five chances to impress.
Real Madrid News
Real Madrid superstar expected to start vs Villarreal after returning to Spain to continue recovery
Kylian Mbappe is already back in Madrid. The Real Madrid forward landed at Adolfo Suarez Madrid-Barajas Airport this morning accompanied by his partner, Ester Exposito, at 11:16am, according to AS.
Real Madrid were training at Valdebebas from 10:30 am, so it is clear that the Frenchman did not take part in that session.
However, he is expected at Valdebebas later today to continue his recovery and reconditioning after the knee problem he suffered, which will not prevent him from playing against Villarreal, the report further states.
What happened to Mbappe?
Mbappe suffered significant pain in his left knee during the first of France’s four matches during this international break. It was Zinedine Zidane’s debut as national team manager and the Real Madrid attacker scored the only goal of the match.
🚨 MBAPPÉ YA ESTÁ en MADRID🚨 ✈️El francés ha aterrizado a las 11:16h en la capital. 👉 El Real Madrid entrenaba hoy a las 10:30h. 📹 @marcosbenito9 https://t.co/R04FwEwHcB
— El Chiringuito TV (@elchiringuitotv) October 5, 2026
As he struck the ball, he felt the discomfort and requested for a substitution. At Real Madrid, they believe that had he continued, the problem could have required surgery.
The striker travelled to Spain to undergo tests, and the medical examination determined that he had “hyperextension of the posterior capsule of the left knee”.
As this was the same knee in which Mbappe suffered a serious sprain last season, there was concern at Valdebebas. However, the problem has proved to be minor and Mourinho is counting on Mbappe for the match against Villarreal on 10 October.
Active rest and recovery
After the tests, Mbappe was given permission to spend a few days on active rest under the supervision of Real Madrid’s medical staff.
He spent just under a week away from Madrid as part of a recovery plan in which coordination between the player, coaching staff and doctors was complete.
The France captain is now expected at Valdebebas to gradually readjust to the rhythm of the rest of the squad as the internationals return to training, with Saturday’s match in mind, where he is expected to start.
This comes as good news for Jose Mourinho, who needs the Frenchman, who has scored eight goals this term, at his best to get Real Madrid’s season back on track.
After all, Real Madrid are six points behind Barcelona in La Liga and are approaching a crucial period of the season.
