Perez's Elite Six: Trent Left Out as Real Madrid Boss Hails His Superstars

Real Madrid supremo Florentino Perez has put his stamp on his squad's quality, singling out half a dozen players as elite operators on the global stage. The 79-year-old, who looks set to win the club's forthcoming presidential election against Enrique Riquelme, has made clear which stars he considers the cornerstone of his project going forward.

Mbappé, Vinicius Junior, Jude Bellingham, Arda Güler, Federico Valverde, and Aurélien Tchouaméni earned Perez's endorsement during a TVE interview. When pressed on whether the first three represent Madrid's future, the president expanded his answer to encompass the full sextet.

"Those three, along with Güler, Valverde, Tchouameni… They are the best in the world," Perez declared. "People know that I sign the best. A good coach will help all those players experience a very important period at Real Madrid."

The glaring absence from this roll call is Trent Alexander-Arnold, the Liverpool academy product who arrived last summer. The England right-back's omission carries particular weight given his pedigree on Merseyside, where he established himself as one of the division's most accomplished defenders—albeit with occasional defensive frailties balanced by his devastating attacking prowess.

His debut campaign at the Bernabéu has proven a slog, marred by injuries and an overall sense of underperformance. The situation worsened when he was overlooked for England's 2026 World Cup squad, a clear signal of his current standing in the game.

Madrid have now endured two consecutive seasons without silverware, a drought that has prompted changes behind the scenes. Álvaro Arbeloa currently occupies the manager's seat, though an arrangement exists for José Mourinho to return for a second spell in charge. Any formal announcement remains on ice pending the presidential election outcome.

On matters of retention, Perez was asked about securing Vinicius Junior on fresh terms. The president offered cautious optimism: "Well, I don't know, if you ask my opinion, I hope he stays, he's one of the best in the world."

Regarding the managerial situation, Perez remained cagey but bullish. "I am thinking about the new coach, yes. I have one name… and two. Mou is a good coach, clearly. I'm not going to announce it, I haven't spoken to him yet."

The Madrid boss intends to strengthen this summer, with a top-tier midfielder and commanding centre-back among his priorities, while keeping his established stars content.