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• Wayne Rooney backs Trent Alexander-Arnold for world-class status at Real Madrid

  Wayne Rooney has lauded Trent Alexander-Arnold’s ball-playing brilliance at Real Madrid while maintaining that defensive growth is essential for him to officially become the world’s premier full-back. Manchester United icon Wayne Rooney has tipped Trent Alexander-Arnold to become the world’s best full-back, provided he addresses defensive “question marks.” Speaking before Real Madrid’s 1-0 win over Benfica, Rooney praised the Englishman’s playmaking but warned that elite teams will target him in transition. Alexander-Arnold has recently secured a starting role under Alvaro Arbeloa, forming a potent right-sided partnership with Arda Güler and Federico Valverde. Rooney insisted that defensive improvement is the final hurdle for the 27-year-old to reach his full potential at the Bernabéu. While acknowledging his world-class ability on the ball, the former striker emphasized the need for balance. Rooney stated, “On the ball, he’s one of the best in world football… If he improves [defensively], there’s no doubt that he will be the best full-back in the world.”

• Trent Alexander-Arnold’s impressive return draws praises

  Trent Alexander-Arnold made an immediate impact in his first start for Real Madrid in over two months, assisting the opener in a 4-1 win that bolsters their La Liga title pursuit.

  Trent Alexander-Arnold marked a triumphant return to Real Madrid’s starting lineup, providing a crucial assist in a dominant 4-1 victory over Real Sociedad.

  After 73 days sidelined by injury, the England international took just five minutes to set up Gonzalo García’s opening goal.

  The performance propelled Los Blancos to their eighth consecutive league win, signaling a major boost for the club’s creative department.

  Manager Álvaro Arbeloa praised the defender’s tactical versatility following the match, stating: “He understands the game very well and quickly grasps what we want from him and where we can make the most of his abilities.”

  With Alexander-Arnold back, Madrid looks to close the gap on Barcelona. The fullback celebrated his return on social media, simply captioning his post with the message, “Good to be back.”

• Luis Enrique Personally Convinced Dro Fernandez to Leave FC Barcelona for PSG

  FC Barcelona legend Luis Enrique personally convinced La Masia product Dro Fernandez to join him at Paris Saint-Germain according to SPORT, which cited anonymous sources.

  The youngster infuriated Hansi Flick just over a week ago, and told him on Friday morning ahead of a defeat to Real Sociedad that he would be leaving via his paltry $7 million (€6 million) release clause getting triggered by an then-unnamed club.

• Games Frenkie de Jong will miss after Super Cup final red card

  Frenkie de Jong will serve a one-match ban during Barcelona’s Copa del Rey match against Racing following his late red card in the Spanish Super Cup final.

  Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong is set to serve a one-game suspension following his dismissal in Sunday’s Spanish Super Cup final victory over Real Madrid.

  The Netherlands international received a straight red card late in the match for a challenge on Kylian Mbappe.

  As a result, de Jong will be unavailable for the club’s upcoming fixture as they transition from their trophy success in Saudi Arabia back to domestic cup action.

  The suspension means de Jong will miss Thursday’s Copa del Rey tie against Racing.

  While his absence is a blow to the midfield rotation, manager Hansi Flick was already expected to make several changes to the starting lineup against lower-tier opposition.

  The vacancy in the squad is likely to provide a rare opening for youngsters Marc Casadó and Marc Bernal, who have both struggled to secure consistent minutes during the current campaign.

  Supporters will not have to wait long for the midfielder’s return to the pitch, as the ban does not extend to league play.

  De Jong will be eligible for selection once again next weekend when Barcelona travels to the Reale Arena.

  The Catalan giants are scheduled to resume their La Liga campaign against Real Sociedad on Sunday, where Flick will look to integrate his key playmaker back into the starting eleven.

• Declan Rice likely to miss Arsenal vs. Aston Villa due to knee injury

  Declan Rice is set to miss Arsenal’s match against Aston Villa due to a knee injury, though the club expects a short-term recovery and the return of other key defenders.

  Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice is expected to miss Tuesday’s crucial fixture against Aston Villa after sustaining a knee injury during Saturday’s win over Brighton.

  Despite playing through the discomfort at right-back in that match, Rice has not recovered sufficiently to feature this evening.

  Club officials are opting for caution to avoid long-term damage, though the current prognosis suggests a relatively short-term absence for the influential England international.

  The Gunners hope to mitigate this loss with the return of Jurrien Timber and the potential inclusion of Ben White, who is ahead of schedule in his hamstring recovery.

  Kai Havertz has also been spotted with the squad following a lengthy layoff since the opening weekend.

  Regarding the tactical shift, the report notes: “In Rice’s absence, Arsenal are likely to call upon the former Real Sociedad trio of Martin Zubimendi, Mikel Merino and Martin Odegaard.”

  Aston Villa face their own selection headaches, missing Matty Cash and Boubacar Kamara due to suspension.

  However, the absence of Rice remains a pivotal factor for the league leaders.

  The report emphasizes the stakes, stating: “Rice has been one of the outstanding players in this season’s Premier League, so Arsenal will miss him in a game of this magnitude,” particularly when facing the threat of Villa’s Morgan Rogers.