Real Madrid’s impatient patient eyes Clásico comeback

Trent Alexander-Arnold is aiming for El Clásico. And he’s dreaming about Juventus. Two sentences that not long ago would have sounded like fantasy. Now, they carry conviction. Faith. And know-how. What was originally a six-to-eight-week recovery could end up taking just five—a near-miracle. The “fifth Beatle” has been grinding eight days a week, keeping pace with his best friend Jude Bellingham, who famously cut his own recovery from three months to two. Trent’s on the same path: the fast track back. The early return. The impatient patient of Valdebebas.

He was injured on September 16, in the match against Marseille. Barely four minutes had passed when—crack. That sharp pain in his left hamstring. No doubt about it: substitution. From that moment, the only question for the medical staff was the size of the tear. Maybe minor… maybe not. The next day, the MRI brought bad news: a significant tear, meaning up to two months out—six weeks minimum. But at Valdebebas, “medical miracle” is almost a job title. And Trent is yet another example.

Turf in sight

Trent is targeting a five-week recovery. A lot—but little, given what it could have been. This Tuesday marked four weeks since the injury, and that milestone has staff recalculating. The plan is for him to return to the field soon and start working with the ball again. First, individual drills. Then gradual sessions with the group. If his leg responds well, he has a real shot at pulling off what once seemed impossible.

Objective: Barcelona

Plan A is clear—be ready for El Clásico. That’s the goal. Dani Carvajal shares it, though he has a much better chance. In the captain’s case, the feeling inside the club is that he’ll be “almost certainly” fit. Trent’s situation isn’t as bright, but there’s light nonetheless—maybe enough to earn a few minutes (it’s virtually impossible he’ll feel better than Carva or take his spot). But he wants to be there. To make the squad list.

And not only that—he’s even eyeing Juventus. Ambitious, yes, but that’s Trent. One thing is certain: he won’t feature at the Coliseum. That would mean cutting his recovery almost in half. Still, the chance of making the squad for the second Champions League game, however slim, exists—and that’s already something. Trent is trying everything. Pushing himself daily in the gym to maintain fitness, spending hours on the treatment table, relentless in his rehab. No breaks.

Heading to Anfield

He knows rushing could lead to a setback. He won’t play if there’s risk. But he’s also aware that what looked like nearly two months out—and missing the next international break—could end up being much shorter. In fact, his presence at Anfield now looks almost certain given how he feels. Even if that means facing a tense, charged atmosphere in the place he once called home. His roots.

Four weeks after tearing his hamstring, Trent is lifting his head again. He’s aiming for El Clásico. Dreaming of Juventus. Eager to return. The impatient patient.