Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho says leaving Trent Alexander-Arnold out of his starting XI is currently the decision that best serves the team, despite an injury bringing the England international into the side for today’s LaLiga match at Racing Santander.

The 28-year-old has endured an injury-disrupted first season in Madrid and has not been a regular starter at right-back under Mourinho. Denzel Dumfries and club captain Fede Valverde have both been preferred ahead of him.

Valverde’s injury has opened the door for Alexander-Arnold to start against Racing Santander, but Mourinho’s doubts about his place in the team remain. Chelsea are reportedly considering making a bold offer for him in January.

Mourinho said he still believes in both Alexander-Arnold and Dumfries, but considers Valverde the better option for the position as he continues to reshape his Real Madrid squad.

The manager said the decision was not intended as a personal judgement on Alexander-Arnold, but was instead made in response to what he thought the team required.

“It hurts me. I don't like giving bad feelings to players; I prefer them to feel good. When you build a squad with two players per position, and end up playing a third, it's not something I like.

“But there are things more important than these feelings, things that matter more for the team at a given moment.

“I feel we needed to change our midfield and play Fede in that position. It was a decision made for the team, not based on individual players.”

Alexander-Arnold’s inclusion for the fixture is therefore a consequence of Valverde’s absence rather than a change in Mourinho’s assessment of the right-back options. The manager’s comments indicate that Valverde remains his preferred choice in the role when available.

Mourinho’s comments also come as Chelsea are linked with a possible January move for Alexander-Arnold, whose first year at Real Madrid has been disrupted by injury and limited opportunities in the starting line-up.