It wasn't meant to unfold like this. Trent Alexander-Arnold departed Liverpool for Real Madrid last summer, a Premier League winner and a club icon at just 26.
Yet his spell at Madrid has been plagued by injury, dips in form, and even speculation about a potential summer departure has hung over him. According to reports, the defender was left out of the starting lineup for disciplinary reasons after arriving late to a training session.
It hasn't been entirely negative for the European Cup victor. Alexander-Arnold has featured in 25 matches for Los Blancos this season and received plaudits for his performance in the recent Champions League clash with Manchester City.
Nevertheless, there's no question that the full-back would have anticipated a smoother adjustment to life in the Spanish capital. The ECHO examines the challenges and setbacks facing Alexander-Arnold.
The 27-year-old has been in the starting lineup for all of Madrid's last four Champions League fixtures and, before last week's win over Elche, had appeared in five consecutive La Liga matches.
Yet, it was Dani Carvajal who was selected at right-back on Sunday, with Alexander-Arnold reportedly dropped to the bench after turning up late for a training session.
According to Spanish publication Marca, Alexander-Arnold "arrived late to one of the final training sessions of the week", with Arbeloa delivering a "clear message with a decision focused on discipline and dressing room order."
Marca also reported that Arbeloa "respected the team's code of conduct and made the necessary decision to maintain order within the group."
It's probable that Alexander-Arnold never expected to return to his boyhood club quite so quickly. Liverpool hosted Madrid at Anfield in the Champions League in November, just months following his exit, and the welcome was perhaps entirely foreseeable.
The right-back began the match on the substitutes' bench for Los Blancos. Shortly after Liverpool had taken a 1-0 lead, the crowd was in full voice, and they made themselves heard even more forcefully when Alexander-Arnold entered the action with 10 minutes remaining.
The former Anfield hero was largely greeted with boos as he stepped onto the pitch. Fans then purposefully sang about club legend Steven Gerrard and Alexander-Arnold's replacement at right-back, Conor Bradley, in a deliberate message to their former star.
That could be a preview of what awaits Alexander-Arnold should Liverpool and Madrid progress past their Champions League quarter-final matches, with a meeting between the two scheduled for the semi-final.
Alexander-Arnold's life in Madrid got off to a rocky start as he was effectively prohibited from driving his £130,000 Range Rover to Madrid's training ground. One of Alexander-Arnold's favourite vehicles to drive was a Range Rover P530.
However, due to Los Blancos' sponsorship deal with BMW, players are barred from driving any other car brand to training, according to Spanish outlet El Motor.
Each year, the German car manufacturer supplies the Madrid squad, along with the women's team and basketball team, with cars for use throughout the season.
Liverpool legend Gerrard has voiced his surprise at Alexander-Arnold's exclusion from England's squad for the upcoming international break. The Madrid star was overlooked in Thomas Tuchel's 35-man selection for the friendly matches against Uruguay and Japan.
Tino Livramento and Djed Spence were selected as England's right-backs, with Reece James out due to injury. Alexander-Arnold hasn't represented his country since the 1-0 win over Andorra in June.
"Listen, we've got some good options at right-back," Gerrard said. "Reece James is world-class, I really like Livramento, I know he's had a couple of injuries, but he can play both sides. I understand the selection, but I just think, 'Is Trent among the best 35 players in this country?' Of course he is.
"There's going to be certain games where England have to open the door, they might be against a low block where it's really frustrating and Trent is one of these players who can come off the bench and just completely change the game with one pass, he's that level of a player.
"So I am surprised and I'm disappointed for him. But there's a lot of other situations that you've got to take into consideration. How much has he played? Is he physically at his best? Is there stuff going on off the pitch?"
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