Trent Alexander-Arnold has been accused of lying to fans following his post-match interview after he made his Real Madrid debut in a Club World Cup draw with Saudi Arabian giants Al-Hilal. The 26-year-old defender played for just over an hour in the heat of the United States, though he failed to impress those watching, with his defensive work being highlighted as a weakness.
One thing that did leave many shocked prior to the game was the defender's ability to speak Spanish fluently at his unveiling as a Madrid player. After his debut, Alexander-Arnold revealed just how long he had been learning the language, though his claims were immediately refuted live on air.
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John Obi Mikel Accuses Alexander-Arnold of Lying About Spanish Lessons
The former Chelsea midfielder believes the Englishman has been learning for longer than he claims
Speaking after the 1-1 draw on Wednesday, Alexander-Arnold was asked by a reporter how long he had been learning Spanish for prior to his move. The Premier League winner played down the idea that he had been learning for several months, stating: "Not too long. A couple of months. It was something important that I had to do.
"I want to adapt and give myself the best start possible going to a new country, new city and new team. It is important to show the intent that I want to embrace the culture, immerse myself in it and try to adapt as best as possible."
However, one person who seemingly doesn't believe a word of what Alexander-Arnold was saying, is former Chelsea star John Obi Mikel. The Nigerian was part of DAZN's broadcast team for the game, and remarked that he thought that Alexander-Arnold had actually been learning for far longer than he was letting on.
"He spent a couple of months learning Spanish, but I don't agree with that. Maybe a year!"
The former Liverpool star has already found himself in hot water for other comments he has made since his move. During his first press conference, he had to backtrack on his initial claims that he had been waiting for a 'long time' to become a Galáctico, clarifying that he meant only a couple of weeks.
Regardless of how long he has been preparing for his move, the full-back didn't do himself many favours during his first outing, and will have to step things up if he wants to usurp club veteran Dani Carvajal for the starting right-back slot.
All statistics courtesy of Sofascore - accurate as of 19/06/2025.
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