The medical verdict on Trent Alexander-Arnold has arrived — and, as feared after his early exit at San Mamés, the news is far from positive for either the player or Real Madrid.

The English defender sustained a muscle injury to the rectus anterior quadriceps in his left leg during Madrid’s 3–0 win over Athletic Club. Thursday morning’s scans confirmed the problem, and the club has now made the diagnosis official.

It marks a disappointing setback for Alexander-Arnold, who had finally begun to string together the consistent performances needed to fully display his quality in Spain. Instead, he is facing yet another spell on the sidelines — his third injury since arriving in Madrid.

Barring an unexpectedly swift recovery — and given his recent fitness record, Real Madrid are not prepared to take any chances — the 26-year-old is unlikely to return to action before early 2026. He had only just recovered from a five-week layoff with a hamstring issue.

With Dani Carvajal also unavailable, Xabi Alonso must now rethink his defensive plans. Options include shifting Fede Valverde into the right-back role, continuing with Raúl Asencio — who replaced Alexander-Arnold at San Mamés — or turning to Éder Militão, who has experience playing there for Brazil.