Trent Alexander-Arnold’s dream move to Real Madrid has hit a worrying early bump this week, after the former Liverpool right-back - widely regarded as the best in the world at his position - was dropped to the bench following just two La Liga starts at his new club. The 26-year-old linked up with Jude Bellingham’s side over the summer.
Keen to secure Trent before his Liverpool contract expired and give him extra time to settle in, Real Madrid paid £10 million in compensation to bring the England international into Xabi Alonso’s squad for the Club World Cup. But the early signs are that the grass isn't always greener on the other side.
Mistake compilations have already circulated online after only a handful of appearances, and the road to redemption has just become far steeper for Alexander-Arnold, who is set to face his first real test in Madrid now that Dani Carvajal has returned to action.
Worrying Update on Trent's Time At Real Madrid
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Ahead of his move to Real Madrid this summer, Trent was repeatedly warned about the challenges he might face in Spain. One caution concerned his defensive frailties, while another highlighted the relentless scrutiny of the famously impatient Spanish press, where overambitious expectations have often been the death of great players such as Gareth Bale.
He was also advised that the pivotal roles of Federico Valverde and Dani Carvajal could see him quickly relegated to second or even third choice if he didn’t make an immediate impact. That last warning came sharply into focus this week, as Carvajal returned from an ACL injury to start ahead of him.
That, however, is just the tip of the iceberg. The Athletic has since reported that he could be spending a long time on the bench. It wrote:
"The 33-year-old [Dani Carvajal] came back from an anterior cruciate ligament injury at the end of last season and sources close to him expect the player to keep his place in Xabi Alonso’s XI for a long time, despite Alexander-Arnold’s signing."
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Indeed, it's safe to say Liverpool supporters - who felt as though their boyhood hero left unceremoniously at the end of the 2024/25 campaign, leaving through the backdoor instead of helping the club recoup some money for him - have had a lot to say about the latest setback. "Man said he wanted to win the Ballon d'Or, now he's going to win the Bench d'Or," one X user commented.
As another highlighted: "No World Cup for him potentially," another added: "He will fade into obscurity there. He could have been a legend at Liverpool. What a loser." Elsewhere, a fourth commented: "He made his choice, let him live with it."
Meanwhile, a fifth concluded: "He knew this was going to happen, he knew he has major flaws in his game. He knew it got away with it at Liverpool because he was a Scouser. I didn’t think it would work at Madrid and reckon he will be out on loan next year."