Jose Mourinho has reached a verdict on Trent Alexander-Arnold at Real Madrid and ex-Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp would agree with it
Jose Mourinho, Head Coach of Real Madrid speaks to the media in a post match press conference after the UEFA Champions League 2026/27 League Phase MD1 match between Real Madrid C.F. and FC Internazionale Milano
Jose Mourinho admits Trent Alexander-Arnold is not a midfielder(Image: Getty)
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Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho has insisted Trent Alexander-Arnold is not a midfielder. And it's the same conclusion former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp came to almost half a decade ago.
Since swapping Anfield for the Bernabeu in 2025, things haven't exactly gone to plan for Alexander-Arnold. With the Reds, he was the undisputed first-choice right-back who helped his boyhood club to two Premier League titles and a Champions League win, amongst other trophies. But in the Spanish capital, he has struggled.
The 27-year-old signed a six-year contract with Real Madrid and in his debut season, made 35 appearances across all competitions. But nagging injuries and managerial changes have been disruptive, as he signed under Xabi Alonso and was briefly managed by now-Fulham coach Alvaro Arbeloa before Mourinho returned this summer.
Denzel Dumfries' arrival from Inter Milan in a £17million deal was another blow, as the more physical, defensive right-back is exactly what Mourinho wants in his starting XI. Therefore, the manager tried something new when his side faced Inter on Tuesday evening in the Champions League.
With Dumfries preferred in defence to face his former club, former Liverpool vice-captain Alexander-Arnold was moved into midfield. He had previously operated there under Gareth Southgate for England, but this latest experiment was relatively unsuccessful despite the Spanish giants securing a 2-1 win.
Alexander-Arnold played 79 minutes before being taken off for Aurelien Tchouameni and Mourinho has reached the same verdict as Klopp: Alexander-Arnold is very much a right-back, not a midfielder.
Trent Alexander-Arnold of Real Madrid in action during the UEFA Champions League match between Real Madrid and Inter Milan at Santiago Bernabeu
The English star was utilised in midfield against Inter(Image: Getty)
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The Englishman's shift into midfield was partly encouraged by Real Madrid's absence of players in the middle of the park. Eduardo Camavinga, Arda Guler and Bernardo Silva were all serving UEFA carry-over suspensions.
And whilst Mourinho commended the player, he did make a telling admission: "He has played midfield with England and Liverpool... But he is not a midfielder.
"He has played very well. He has interpreted what he needed to really well, tactically. Both him and [Federico] Valverde have worked very well at this level."
Trent Alexander-Arnold of England passes the ball during the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifier match between England and Andorra at Wembley Stadium
Southgate enlisted the help of Alexander-Arnold differently in 2021(Image: Getty)
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In 2021, England boss Southgate opted to use Alexander-Arnold in the middle rather than at his natural right-back role during a World Cup qualifier against Andorra. He lasted just 45 minutes there before being restored to full-back.
Ex-Reds boss Klopp was dumbfounded by the decision and told Sky Sports: "Why would you make the best right-back in the world a midfielder? I don't understand that really."
Two years later, Klopp went against his own concerns. During a Premier League match against Fulham, Alexander-Arnold, who was being used as an inverted full-back, stepped into a holding midfield role for the final 30 minutes of the game. Liverpool won 4-3 and Alexander-Arnold scored an 88th-minute winner.
However, Klopp made it crystal clear post-match that he did not view the player as a permanent midfield option, much the same conclusion Mourinho has reached with Real Madrid.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp makes a point to Trent Alexander-Arnold during the Premier League match between Burnley FC and Liverpool FC
Klopp knew his player's best position(Image: Getty)
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Klopp said: "I'm not stubborn and don't want to play him midfield, not at all, but I am not part of the discussion. You can discuss it as much as you want, but it will not have any influence.
"Yes, Trent can play midfield but we always knew that Trent can play the role we gave him now very well as well. He became one of the most successful players in the history of Liverpool, in the recent history, playing as a right-back. He became a Premier League player as a right-back."