Real Madrid veteran’s return ramps up pressure on summer arrival | OneFootball

After a wait of nearly nine months, Real Madrid have their first-choice right-back, Dani Carvajal, back and available.

The 33-year-old club captain confirmed on Monday that he is fully fit and ready to go again, having recovered from his ACL injury.

In fact, there is a solid possibility that the Spaniard makes his on-pitch return tonight against Juventus in the FIFA Club World Cup Round of 16.

Pressure on Trent Alexander-Arnold

While Carvajal’s return is a huge boost for Real Madrid, it also serves to ramp up the pressure on the team’s new marquee signing Trent Alexander-Arnold.

The England international joined from Liverpool, with Los Blancos spending €10 million to fast-track his arrival in time for the Club World Cup instead of waiting for his contract to expire on June 30.

Dani Carvajal is back. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

Trent started at right-back in all of Real Madrid’s three Group H games at the Club World Cup but has yet to show that spark of quality that makes him such a valuable asset.

Now with Carvajal back and breathing down his necks, the former Liverpool ace will have to step up a notch and work harder to nail down his place in the team.

Trent’s attacking threat and the quality he offers from set-pieces are unquestionable and he has helped create chances from those even though he is yet to fully connect with some of his new teammates.

Tonight, against Juventus, the new signing faces his toughest test so far as a Real Madrid player, coming up against a top European team, knowing that he cannot afford to make any mistakes, for Carvajal is back and ready to pounce.