Real Madrid spent big in wages and bonuses - and even a 10 million euro fee to Liverpool just to sign him ahead of the Club World Cup - on Trent Alexander-Arnold last summer transfer window, and yet they still signed one of the world's best right backs again this summer in Denzel Dumfries on a bargain release clause from Serie A champions Inter Milan.
There was a feeling that maybe Jose preferred Dumfries's more robust and defensive skill set out wide, thus sending a message to Trent that like for the England national team, he will have to fight for his place and convince a manager who might not necessarily believe in him.
Funnily enough, Mourinho started both Dumfries and Trent together in the last preseason match against Fiorentina, but, interestingly enough, he gave the former Liverpool star the nod at right back with Dumfries actually playing further ahead of him on the right wing.
Trent Alexander-Arnold is showing the Real Madrid mentality
Whereas Dumfries had a subdued day, Trent, just as he was in the previous week's friendly against local rivals Leganes, was one of the best players on the pitch for Real Madrid. And for Madridistas who have been watching the team closely over the past several months, it's not at all a surprise to see Alexander-Arnold standing out above his peers.
He is clearly the best technical passer and most creative player in the side, even above the young Arda Guler, and he can create chances from absolutely nowhere with his crosses and deep through balls. Trent produced moments of sterling quality as a passer against both Leganes and Fiorentina, and he is proving the reports in the Spanish media correct that he is as determined as ever to prove himself to Real Madrid and new, mercurial manager Jose Mourinho.
Real Madrid and Mourinho understand the psychology of elite players very well, and they know that the guys who ultimatley succeed at the Santiago Bernabeu are the ones who show urgency and step up the most when the pressure is turned on the highest.
Los Blancos turned up the pressure when Mourinho asked them to sign Denzel Dumfries, and he probably did that, in part ot provide Trent with real competition and coax that Champions League winning mentality back out of the veteran fullback.
It is early days, of course, but Trent Alexander-Arnold is already building on the classy displays he flashed towards the end of the 2025/26 La Liga season, and he is well on his way to answering the big question Mourinho posed to him by signing Dumfries: Are you ready to be a world class starter and the heir to Dani Carvajal?
Add us as a preferred source on Google