Trent Alexander-Arnold: From Ballon d’Or Ambitions to Madrid Struggles | OneFootball

During the 2024/25 season, it was no secret that Real Madrid had set their sights on Trent Alexander-Arnold. With Dani Carvajal suffering another long-term injury and his age catching up with him, the club needed a replacement. Madrid’s recent transfer policy has often been to wait until contracts expire and sign players for free. This time, however, things played out differently. With the FIFA Club World Cup looming and Xabi Alonso keen to integrate Alexander-Arnold into his plans, Madrid paid Liverpool €10 million to cut short his contract.

At 26, Arnold arrived in Spain after spending two decades at Liverpool, progressing through every youth level before debuting for the first team in 2016/17 and going on to win every major trophy. He spoke openly about his ambitions: to chase the Ballon d’Or and become the first right-back in history to claim it, convinced he had the qualities to make that dream a reality.

A Modest Beginning, but…

Alexander-Arnold’s debut came at the FIFA Club World Cup against Al Hilal, where he was substituted off after 65 minutes following a very subdued performance. Versus Pachuca, the story was similar: another start, another substitution after 78 minutes. Against Salzburg, he finally completed 90 minutes, offering a slightly improved performance.

In the round of 16 against Juventus, he produced his first assist for the club with a trademark cross finished by Gonzalo García and played the full match. But in the quarter-final against Borussia Dortmund, Madrid won 3–2 while Arnold remained largely anonymous and was again substituted in the 67th minute.

An Injury kept him out of the tie against Paris Saint-Germain, which ended in a heavy 4–0 defeat for Madrid. That night also marked Carvajal’s return to the pitch after months out, entering as a substitute for the final 20 minutes. By the end of the FIFA Club World Cup, Arnold had featured in five matches, started all of them, but was substituted in three. In total: 390 minutes played, one assist, and plenty of questions.

Still, excuses were available: a new environment, a new coach, different tactical demands, and crucially, no pre-season. Even the best players in the world need time to adapt. But if the FIFA Club World Cup acted as a pre-season for Trent Alexander-Arnold, what explains his disappointing La Liga form?

The Liga Struggles

Madrid’s league campaign began at the Bernabéu against Osasuna, a match decided by Kylian Mbappé penalty where Trent Alexander-Arnold started but was hooked in the 68th minute for Carvajal. His poor form continued, and in the second fixture, Arnold was left on the bench, entering only in the 87th minute. He returned to the XI in the third game but again failed to impress and was substituted in the 72nd minute.

The international break brought another blow: Thomas Tuchel excluded him from the England squad, choosing Reece James instead. After the break, Madrid visited Real Sociedad at Anoeta. Alonso relied on Carvajal’s experience away from the start, leaving Trent Alexander-Arnold on the bench until the 82nd minute.

So far in La Liga, Arnold has played four games, starting two and appearing as a substitute in two, totalling 151 minutes compared to Carvajal’s 209.

What exactly did Arnold expect? To start every match regardless of form? The 26-year-old, who dreams of the Ballon d’Or, has found himself behind a 33-year-old veteran with one good knee who hadn’t played for nearly nine months. Yet, let’s not forget who Carvajal is: a six-time Champions League winner and one of the most decorated right-backs in modern football, he is still trusted in big moments.

In the opening group-stage match against Marseille, Arnold’s luck turned cruel. He started, but after just five minutes, a knock forced him off, an injury that will keep him out for around two months.

The Ego Factor

There is no debate about Arnold’s qualities in possession: his range of passing, ability to dictate the tempo, switch play, deliver diagonals, and step into midfield as an inverted full-back. In the final third, he remains capable of creating chances and even threatening from a distance. His offensive upside is well established. But his defensive flaws are equally undeniable. Unlike Carvajal, he lacks natural defensive instincts, and that weakness has followed him from Liverpool to Madrid.

More concerning, though, is his attitude. At times, he plays as if he has nothing left to prove, carrying himself with the aura of “one of the greatest already”.

At Real Madrid, that doesn’t fly. The standards are relentless, and until now, Trent Alexander-Arnold hasn’t shown enough to justify the hype or the ambitions he publicly declared. He is fighting for a starting role and, for the moment, losing that battle.

Can Bernabéu Show Patience for RB?

Real Madrid is the most demanding club in world football. Santiago Bernabéu is unforgiving. Legends like Raúl, Zidane and even Cristiano Ronaldo have been whistled at by their own supporters when performances dipped. Why would a right-back be spared?

The pressure of the fans and the Spanish media is immense. Every poor performance will be magnified, particularly with Carvajal, a club icon, waiting in the wings. For Trent Alexander-Arnold, the margin for error is minimal.

As a Madridista, I don’t care about names or reputations. Whoever wears the shirt must give absolutely everything for the team. So far, Alexander-Arnold hasn’t met that standard. The question now is simple: will he rise to the challenge, or will Bernabéu swallow him whole?