Trent Alexander-Arnold should be praised for choosing a massive challenge at Real Madrid in replacing Dani Carvajal.
That is the opinion of European football expert Andy Brassell, who believes the England star has prepared for a slow start to life in Spain.
Alexander-Arnold has played a combined 11 minutes across Madrid's two away matches this season
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Alexander-Arnold has played a combined 11 minutes across Madrid's two away matches this seasonCredit: Getty
Alexander-Arnold played just eight minutes of Real Madrid's 2-1 win over Real Sociedad on Saturday, with Carvajal preferred once again.
It is the second successive away game that the former Liverpool defender has been forced to play second fiddle to the Spaniard.
Alexander-Arnold also spent the majority of the 3-0 victory against Real Oviedo on the bench and got just three minutes of action.
In contrast, the 26-year-old hasn't been trusted to feature beyond the 72-minute mark during each of his two LaLiga starts.
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"He came on for Dani Carvajal near the end of this game, but just to help see the game out and give Carvajal a bit of a breather," Brassell explained on talkSPORT’s Trans Euro Express podcast.
"Remember, he's still coming back from a pretty big injury. But it's not just that. Carvajal is defensive security, and an experienced player.
"In many ways, he's the heart and soul of Madrid. Remember, he was the captain, starting the game yesterday as well. So he's got a symbolic value as well as a playing value.
"It was interesting seeing, of course, Lucas Vázquez play his first game for Bayer Leverkusen this weekend, and he looked pretty good.
"Of course, Carvajal was there before. So it's almost like a well-trodden path, I suppose you could say, for Madrid fullbacks.
"But clearly he took one look at Alexander-Arnold and Carvajal and thought, 'Yeah, I'm not getting in the middle of this.' Go and find somewhere a little bit more safe where I can play some games."
Trent had to contend with being dropped to the bench once again
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Trent had to contend with being dropped to the bench once again
Trent's 'massive challenge' at Madrid
Alexander-Arnold left his boyhood club, Liverpool, in June, with Madrid forking out £8.4million to have him for theClub World Cup.
He featured six times, but injury ensured he was powerless to prevent the club's 4-0 semi-final defeat to Paris Saint-Germain.
The right-back, who is without an assist this season, then came in for somebrutal reviews from Spanish mediaafter his LaLiga debut.
To add insult to injury, he was dropped by England manager Thomas Tuchel and told his international career could even be over.
"It's a massive challenge that Alexander-Arnold has taken on," Brassell continued. "There were much easier decisions for him to make.
Carvajal's return has meant that Alexander-Arnold has seen his minutes reduced
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Carvajal's return has meant that Alexander-Arnold has seen his minutes reducedCredit: Getty
"He didn't make them. He chose Real Madrid. And I think he's to be applauded for that.
"I think the way that they're bleeding him in is quite sensible. Now, of course, I think he's realised, because he's super intelligent anyway, I think you look at his charm offensive in terms of speaking Spanish from the beginning.
"It's because he's smart enough to know that he is taking on a club legend. And ultimately, he's going to replace that club legend.
"But in the meantime, Xavi Alonso has really got to have the social adeptness to manage that transition very slowly, as well as managing the transition of Trent Alexander-Arnold to Spanish football."
Alexander-Arnold wasn't picked for England over the international break
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Alexander-Arnold wasn't picked for England over the international breakCredit: AFP
Alonso Outlines Plan for Trent
Alexander-Arnold's first month at the Bernabeu is in stark contrast to the way his England pal Jude Bellingham arrived two years ago.
In August 2023, the midfielder matched Cristiano Ronaldo's record of scoring four goals in his first three LaLiga games.
However, Alexander-Arnold has had no chance of making a corresponding noteworthy impact in Madrid - with Alonso warning him that he won't be the de facto No. 1 in his position.
"Fortunately, we have healthy competition within the team, and they're challenged internally because there are teammates who are ready," Alonso said in the past week.
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"It also happens in other positions, like centre back or winger. Whoever deserves it will play; it's going to be very repetitive all year."