Trent Alexander-Arnold accepts the change proposed to him by Real Madrid
The club wants him to step up as a leader and finally deliver the impact expected from him
The start of the season has not gone as Real Madrid expected for Trent Alexander-Arnold. His adaptation has been slower than anticipated, and he has not yet become the decisive right-back he once was at Liverpool. In fact, while both were fit, he rotated the position with Dani Carvajal.
But with Carvajal now injured, the responsibility falls entirely on Trent for the coming weeks. For this reason, Real Madrid have requested a significant change from him: they want him to step up, take on a leadership role, and evolve from being merely reliable to becoming a true difference-maker.
So far, he has been solid and mistake-free, but not influential. When Madrid signed him, they expected his trademark deliveries to shine—and also for him to contribute to the team’s build-up, drifting into central areas thanks to his exceptional technical ability.
This is exactly what the club has now asked of him, and they expect Alexander-Arnold to start providing that added value. They believe the team’s overall performance will improve if he showcases his strengths, especially now that he is more settled after the summer transition.
A Personal “Mini Preseason”
Alexander-Arnold arrived at Real Madrid to play the Club World Cup with almost no training in his legs. Later, his adaptation was hindered by the lack of a proper preseason—something attributed to a decision by LaLiga president Javier Tebas. As a result, Trent had not reached his full level and was performing below expectations.
However, during the current international break, he was not called up by England and decided to take advantage of the opportunity. According to Guillermo Rai, Trent has been training in warm weather conditions in Dubai with specialized coaches. He used his days off from Madrid to improve his physical condition and fine-tune his fitness after his recent injury.
This preparation aims to help him meet the club’s demands. Physically, he is now in optimal condition to perform at the highest level and take that long-awaited step forward. The next test will be on the pitch—where the team urgently needs him.
Competition for the Right-Back Spot
Alexander-Arnold was injured during the Champions League match against Olympique de Marseille and took several weeks to return. But even after reappearing on the squad list, he was not a starter. Xabi Alonso opted for Fede Valverde, who delivered excellent performances as a makeshift right-back.
Still, Trent is the natural player for the role, and after the international break, he must fight to reclaim it. With Carvajal sidelined, this is his chance to assert himself and become Real Madrid’s undisputed right-back. That is precisely what the club expects—so he can finally justify his signing.
