Manchester City have made many bold moves under Pep Guardiola, but one thing is becoming very clear as the summer transfer window approaches. Despite growing rumours, noisy speculation, and dramatic headlines linking the club with a shock move for Trent Alexander-Arnold, City are not planning to offer the Real Madrid defender a route back to the Premier League. The story may sound tempting on the surface, but behind the scenes, the Etihad hierarchy have already drawn a line.
When Trent Alexander-Arnold made the decision to leave Liverpool and join Real Madrid at the end of last season, it sent shockwaves through English football. He was not just another Liverpool player. He was a local boy, a symbol of the club, and someone many fans believed would stay at Anfield for life. The way the move happened only made things worse. There were feelings of betrayal, anger, and disappointment among Liverpool supporters, emotions that still linger today.
Real Madrid sold the move as the beginning of a new era. Alexander-Arnold was supposed to be the long-term successor to Dani Carvajal, one of the most reliable right-backs in the club’s modern history. The plan was clear. Trent would bring creativity, leadership, and elite passing from deep, reshaping the way Madrid attacked from the right side for years to come.
But football rarely follows a perfect script.
Alexander-Arnold’s first season in Madrid has been anything but smooth. Injuries disrupted his rhythm early on. His form dipped. Confidence wavered. He found himself in and out of the starting eleven in a team struggling to find balance. To make matters worse, Real Madrid went through managerial chaos, with Xabi Alonso sacked earlier this month after a run of disappointing results.
In that kind of environment, even the strongest players struggle. For a player adjusting to a new league, a new country, and enormous expectations, the pressure became intense. Spanish media quickly began questioning whether the move had been rushed. Some pundits asked whether Alexander-Arnold was truly suited to Madrid’s demands. Others speculated about his future before his first season had even settled.
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That noise soon travelled back to England.
Manchester City’s name was quickly thrown into the conversation. Pep Guardiola has long admired Alexander-Arnold’s intelligence on the ball. His ability to step into midfield, dictate tempo, and create chances fits Guardiola’s football philosophy almost perfectly. There was also a personal connection. City assistant Pep Lijnders worked closely with Alexander-Arnold during his years at Liverpool, helping shape his development.
On paper, the link made sense. City are expected to target a right-back in the summer. Guardiola is always planning two steps ahead. Alexander-Arnold’s struggles in Spain made the story even more tempting. The idea of City offering him a return to England, a fresh start, and a familiar style of football quickly caught fire.
But reality is very different from rumours.
Manchester City are not chasing Trent Alexander-Arnold. Not now. Not this summer.
Sources close to the club suggest City have no intention of entering negotiations with Real Madrid for the defender. The financial cost would be enormous, the political consequences significant, and the footballing logic not as straightforward as it appears. Guardiola may admire the player, but admiration does not always lead to action.
There is also the Liverpool factor. Alexander-Arnold’s reputation at Anfield is already damaged. A move to Manchester City would turn disappointment into permanent hostility. City are aware of the noise such a transfer would create and have no interest in unnecessary drama, especially with other priorities on the table.
Meanwhile, Real Madrid are not pushing Alexander-Arnold out. Despite early struggles, the club remains committed to the project. New manager Alvaro Arbeloa has reportedly backed the defender and sees him as an important part of Madrid’s future. Arbeloa understands the learning curve and believes patience will be rewarded.
That backing has calmed things in Spain, at least for now.
At City, the focus is elsewhere. The club have already spent heavily in the January window, bringing in Antoine Semenyo and Marc Guehi for a combined £82.5 million. Those signings were not impulsive. They were targeted, planned, and aligned with Guardiola’s long-term vision.
The right-back position remains an area of interest, but City are exploring different solutions. Matheus Nunes has been converted into a full-time right-back and has shown promise, even if he is not a natural defender. Guardiola trusts his intelligence and athleticism, and believes he can grow into the role.
Rico Lewis, meanwhile, is seen as a midfielder, not a defender. Guardiola values his composure and positional awareness in central areas, which limits City’s traditional right-back options when Nunes is unavailable. That weakness was exposed in defeats to Manchester United and Bodo/Glimt, matches that raised uncomfortable questions.
Still, Guardiola is not panicking.
Marc Guehi’s arrival has added flexibility. Guardiola has already spoken publicly about Guehi’s ability to play across the back line. With Nathan Ake and John Stones approaching the final year of their contracts, City are expected to bring in another centre-back this summer. That could allow Guardiola to rotate defensively and cover the right-back role without a specialist signing.
Rayan Ait-Nouri has also been used on the right side, including in the loss to Bodo/Glimt. While the result was poor, Guardiola is known for experimenting and adapting. He often builds solutions internally rather than chasing headline transfers.
This is where the Alexander-Arnold rumours lose momentum. City do not feel desperate. They are not reacting emotionally. They are not driven by headlines. Guardiola believes solutions already exist within the squad or can be addressed more quietly in the market.
For Alexander-Arnold, the situation remains delicate. His move to Madrid was bold and ambitious. It was a gamble on greatness. One difficult season does not erase his quality, but it does test his resilience. Madrid is not a forgiving place. Every mistake is magnified. Every dip in form becomes a storyline.
Returning to England so soon would raise uncomfortable questions about the decision to leave Liverpool in the first place. Staying and fighting would send a stronger message.
For Manchester City, the message is also clear. They are focused on evolution, not nostalgia. Guardiola respects Alexander-Arnold, but City’s project is not built around rescuing players from difficult spells elsewhere. It is built around control, discipline, and long-term planning.
As the summer approaches, rumours will continue. Names will be linked. Headlines will grow louder. But behind closed doors at the Etihad, the stance is calm and firm
Trent Alexander-Arnold will not be wearing sky blue next season.
Sometimes, the biggest transfer stories are the ones that never happen.
