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This summer saw Trent Alexander-Arnold make the most significant decision of his career, and he's now grappling with the fallout.
In a move that sparked controversy, Alexander-Arnold left his childhood club, Liverpool, to join Real Madrid. For those not aligned with Liverpool, it was a bold and thrilling move that saw him team up with Jude Bellingham under the guidance of manager Xabi Alonso.
At 26, Alexander-Arnold is highly ambitious, having previously expressed his desire to revolutionise the right-back position and win the Ballon d'Or. His journey with Real is still in its early stages, but it's safe to say things haven't quite gone according to plan for Alexander-Arnold so far.
The initial buzz surrounding the transfer has faded, and the reality of life in Madrid is starting to sink in. Here, we provide an insight into how Alexander-Arnold is faring at his new club.
Club World Cup letdown
Madrid forked out more than $10 million to secure Alexander-Arnold before his contract expired at the end of June. This hefty sum underscored the value they placed on his participation in the Club World Cup in the United States this summer.
Alexander-Arnold was immediately included in the starting line-up, playing five consecutive matches and providing two assists as Alonso's team advanced to the semifinals. However, an injury kept him out of the semifinal, and Madrid was trounced 4-0 by Paris Saint-Germain, bringing the team's tournament run to an abrupt halt.
He swiftly secured the right-back spot, with Dani Carvajal still on the mend following his anterior cruciate ligament rupture last October. However, circumstances would shift rapidly.
Carvajal rivalry
Alexander-Arnold had no misconceptions about his standing at Madrid, understanding that Carvajal was working his way back from injury. The 33-year-old remains a Real icon and wasn't simply going to relinquish his place without resistance.
Alonso recognised he couldn't merely bench Carvajal and that rivalry for positions was beneficial. "It's not going to be about being fair or unfair, I'll just have to divide what's there," he remarked before the campaign commenced when questioned about the right-back slot.
"I have many positions double-covered. This is one of those, with two exceptional players. Carva, who's been training hard and is much closer to his original level by now, and Trent, from Liverpool. That's amazing for improving the level of the squad. We're going to be playing tons of games, and we need to have that top level."
Challenging La Liga debut
Alexander-Arnold emerged victorious in the initial contest when he was named in the starting XI for the opening La Liga game against Osasuna last week. Real secured a 1-0 victory, though it didn't unfold as planned for the former Liverpool star on his maiden La Liga start.
He surrendered possession 15 times and was withdrawn in the 68th minute by Alonso. The manager's substitution was warmly received by supporters, who afforded Carvajal a rousing reception upon his comeback from injury.
Spanish journalists, particularly those covering Madrid, are renowned for their forthright views – and Alexander-Arnold received considerable criticism following that match. Carvajal's established history at the club ensures he remains a favoured figure, which only heightens the challenge facing Alexander-Arnold.
Relegated to the bench
For Real Madrid's second La Liga fixture of the campaign, Alonso benched Alexander-Arnold in favor of Carvajal, who featured from the start in the commanding 3-0 victory against Real Oviedo. The England defender was restricted to a brief cameo appearance as a late substitute – before receiving a clear message from his manager that squad rotation would be inevitable.
"It depends on what we need in terms of the game, the workload and the opposition," Alonso said. "I haven't made a decision for the next month. I'm going to see how we recover and to make sure that people feel important and ready to start, come off the bench or be able to be in the next game.
"This is important for the stability of the team's performance. Today was a game to show that we're still improving. We want to continue like this, now we'll prepare for the Mallorca game before the break.
"We have twenty-odd players in the squad and I'm going to try to get the best out of all of them. Sometimes you can have a few minutes and be important, today Vini was important. My intention is that everyone contributes to the team. That's going to be the norm."
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