Trent Alexander-Arnold's struggles at Real Madrid have now become so apparent Jose Mourinho is being asked about the defender's future at the Spanish club

Jose Mourinho has confessed that Trent Alexander-Arnold's struggles at Real Madrid make him "sad."

The former Liverpool defender has massively struggled for minutes under Mourinho this season, starting just three games in La Liga and coming off the bench in a further three. The arrival of Denzel Dumfries this summer has seen the 28-year-old fall down the pecking order.

To make matters worse, Mourinho has also used midfielder Federico Valverde at right-back, making Alexander-Arnold his third-choice in the position.

Naturally, Alexander-Arnold's future at the club has been called into serious question. Some rumors have even suggested a return to Liverpool could be on the cards.

Mourinho was asked about the Englishman's situation at the weekend.

"Would I understand if Trent wants to leave?" he posed.

"I want players to feel good. When you build a squad with two players per position and you end up playing a third player, that makes me sad, but some things are better for the team."

Mourinho has also explained his decision to start Valverde at right-back in the wins against Sevilla and Barcelona.

"I saw that the time had come to make a change in midfield and field Valverde, and my thinking was focused on the interest of the team, not on the players' calculations," he said.

"And when I explained to Trent and Dumfries that the decision was not directed against either of them, but rather came to serve the team, I received a positive reaction from both of them."

Mourinho, though, has confirmed the Uruguayan will not start Sunday's game against Racing Santander with either Dumfries or Alexander-Arnold to get a nod from the start.

"Valverde will not start tomorrow, but one of the other players will play from the beginning," he said.

"And in the Barcelona match, I brought on Dumfries due to certain circumstances, while Trent played for a few minutes, and I do not think either of them will ask me to let him go."

Real Madrid secured an important win against Barcelona last weekend, winning 2-1 thanks to goals from Kylian Mbappe.

Alexander-Arnold played just one minute of stoppage time in the game, touching the ball three times and completing one pass. This kind of bit-part role is not what he would have envisaged when leaving Liverpool two years ago.

Last season wasn't much better for Alexander-Arnold. He made just 14 starts in 21 appearances in La Liga, completing four assists as the club rotated from Xabi Alonso to Alvaro Arbeloa.

For now, at least, Alexander-Arnold's nightmare continues.