Trent Alexander-Arnold has forced Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho to reach a verdict - and it's a sentiment long echoed by Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp
Trent Alexander-Arnold of Real Madrid receives instructions from head coach Jose Mourinho during the UEFA Champions League 2026/27 League Phase MD1 match between Real Madrid C.F. and FC Internazionale Milano at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu
Trent Alexander-Arnold's performance in midfield for Real Madrid has made up Jose Mourinho's mind(Image: Getty)
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Trent Alexander-Arnold was trialled in midfield by Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho on Tuesday evening. But the Portuguese manager has reached the same conclusion as former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp: Alexander-Arnold is better as a right-back.
Since moving to the Bernabeu last summer, the English defender has struggled with injuries. He did, however, make 35 appearances last term, registering five assists. Alas, with Mourinho's arrival came more roadblocks, as the ex-Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham boss sanctioned the signing of a new right-back.
Netherlands international Denzel Dumfries has arrived from Inter Milan for £17million. In pre-season, Mourinho tried to play Alexander-Arnold alongside his new team-mate. In the Champions League on Tuesday evening, Inter Milan witnessed a brand new experiment.
With Dumfries selected in defence to face his old club, former Liverpool vice-captain Alexander-Arnold was deployed in midfield. He had previously filled that role under Gareth Southgate for England, but this latest trial proved relatively ineffective despite the Spanish giants claiming a 2-1 victory.
Alexander-Arnold featured for 79 minutes before making way for Aurelien Tchouameni, and Mourinho has reached the same conclusion as Klopp: Alexander-Arnold is firmly a right-back, not a midfielder.
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His deployment in midfield was partially driven by Real Madrid's shortage of options in the centre of the pitch. Eduardo Camavinga, Arda Guler and Bernardo Silva were all unavailable due to UEFA carry-over suspensions.
Trent Alexander-Arnold of Real Madrid receives instructions from head coach Jose Mourinho during the UEFA Champions League 2026/27 League Phase MD1 match between Real Madrid C.F. and FC Internazionale Milano at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu
Mourinho spoke out about the English star after the win(Image: Getty)
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Whilst Mourinho praised the player, he made a significant 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."
In 2023, during a Premier League fixture against Fulham, Alexander-Arnold, who had been operating as an inverted full-back, moved into a holding midfield position for the closing 30 minutes of the match. Liverpool secured a 4-3 victory with Alexander-Arnold netting an 88th-minute winner.
However, ex-Reds boss Klopp made it abundantly clear after the final whistle that he did not consider the player a long-term midfield solution. He 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.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp makes a point to Trent Alexander-Arnold during the Premier League match between Burnley FC and Liverpool FC
Klopp never considered Trent Alexander-Arnold a midfielder(Image: Getty)
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"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."
Two years before this, Klopp verbally reached the exact same conclusion as Mourinho has this week. In 2021, England manager Southgate chose to deploy Alexander-Arnold centrally rather than in his usual right-back position during a World Cup qualifier against Andorra.
He managed just 45 minutes there before being switched back to full-back. Klopp was baffled 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."