Trent Alexander-Arnold makes PRIVATE Real Madrid confession | OneFootball

Trent Alexander-Arnold is finding out that the grass isn't always greener on the other side.

Moving to Real Madrid seemed like something Liverpool's former academy graduate had set his mind to. It was an emotional farewell to him at Anfield on the final day of last season.

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Alexander-Arnold sobbed as he got a cheer from the crowd and went onto lift the Premier League title.

For close to a decade, he was adored at Anfield. Liverpool fans staunchly backed him until the very end when it became apparent that he was angling for a move.

For Alexander-Arnold his ambition to join Real Madrid were seemingly motivated by the desire to win personal accolades and more silverware.

Yet, this doesn't seem like it's going to plan.

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He's joining a Real Madrid side in transition under Xabi Alonso. Barcelona are the strongest team in La Liga and elsewhere in Europe there are plenty of better teams than Real Madrid vying for the Champions League.

On top of everything, it seems like Alexander-Arnold is not even going to be a regular starter. He was substituted after just an hour on his La Liga debut and then he played just seven minutes in Real Madrid's second La Liga game against Real Oviedo after being dropped to the bench.

Alonso is seemingly becoming concerned with Alexander-Arnold's defensive contributions, which is why a 33-year-old Dani Carvajal is currently playing ahead of the former Liverpool star.

It's quickly turning into quite a disappointing start for Alexander-Arnold and that's something that's been reflected in the reporting in the Spanish media.

Defensa Central claims that the player has made a surprise confession privately to Jude Bellingham outlining the scale of his challenge at Real Madrid.

"Either I raise my level or playing for this team will be difficult..." he is reported to have said.

That's a stunning statement from someone who is regarded as one of the best right-backs in modern football. But this is the surprising reality Alexander-Arnold must now deal with.

At Liverpool he was in a protected cocoon. In Madrid, he's just in a cut-throat environment where he simply cannot slip up.

It's sink or swim time for him. Something he will not have expected when he first arrived at the Spanish capital. But this is how quickly things can turn against you.