Real Madrid summer signing set for a starting role ahead of club captain | OneFootball

Real Madrid roped in Trent Alexander-Arnold from Liverpool back in June, even paying a small compensation fee to Liverpool instead of waiting for his contract to expire so that he can play at the FIFA Club World Cup.

Now, with Dani Carvajal having recovered from his ACL injury and back to full fitness, Real Madrid have a competition brewing in the right-back position heading into the new season.

Trent to start, Carvajal will compete

Now, according to AS, Trent Alexander-Arnold is expected to start the season in the starting XI for Real Madrid under manager Xabi Alonso.

But how the situation will evolve over the coming months remains uncertain as Dani Carvajal is ready to challenge for his place.

The coaching staff has accepted that rotations will be necessary, but eventually, one will play more. At present, no one inside the club dares to predict who will rack up more minutes over the season.

Dani Carvajal has recovered from his ACL injury. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

In the short term, Trent appears to have the edge, but one can never count against Carvajal’s experience, quality, and leadership. After all, before his injury, the Real Madrid captain was performing at an elite level.

The two players offer contrasting profiles. Carvajal is clearly the stronger defender, with better positioning and one-on-one ability in attack.

Yet the coaching staff greatly appreciate the technical qualities that Trent brings to transitions. In Alonso’s system, full-backs are expected to function like midfielders – a role that suits Trent more naturally than Carvajal. His contribution to build-up play is highly valued.

So, heading into the new season, Trent is set to feature as the starting right-back in Alonso’s team, but Carvajal will be pushing hard to reclaim his spot.