Trent Alexander-Arnold to Real Madrid off the table as Carlo Ancelotti makes shock transfers admission after Kylian Mbappe & Endrick deals

Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti says his “squad is closed”, seemingly ending Trent Alexander-Arnold’s chances of joining from Liverpool.

Following the departure of legendary Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp, speculation has mounted that Alexander-Arnold could be heading for the Anfield exit, too. The England international has been strongly linked with Real Madrid, but after the arrivals of Kylian Mbappe and Endrick – head coach Ancelotti says the squad will stay as it is.

He told reporters ahead of their pre-season tour of America: “The squad is closed. [Jesus] Vallejo is back, [David] Alaba is recovering. We have the young people: Joan [Martinez], Jacobo [Ramon], and Raul [Asencio]. No one will be leaving because everyone wants to stay.”

Alexander-Arnold is out of contract at Liverpool in the summer of 2025 and is yet to sign a new deal at Anfield. Team-mates Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk are in the same boat, with this key trio set to become free agents in less than a year – unless new manager Arne Slot can tempt them into a new contract. While Madrid appear to be somewhat short defensively, after seeing long-time servant Nacho Fernandez depart, it seems their reported interest in the England full-back has been put on the backburner.

Transfer speculation aside, Ancelotti’s Madrid side take on AC Milan on Wednesday in their first pre-season friendly of their United States tour, before locking horns with rivals Barcelona on August 3 and then Chelsea three days later.