Real Madrid signed Trent Alexander-Arnold last summer from Liverpool, and while it took him some time to get used to life at the Santiago Bernabeu, he started to show exactly why Florentino Perez wanted him so badly by the end of the season. Trent's crosses and technical quality, as well as his range of passing, are legendary at the right back position, and they are so good that there have been conversations again this summer about potentially converting the England international to the center midfield again - a feat Jurgen Klopp already attempted before at Anfield.
Trent is under quite a bit of pressure again this season, too, just as he was last year. And you could argue that he is under even more pressure to perform in his second season at the Santiago Bernabeu after the hiring of Jose Mourinho, his snub from the World Cup this summer by Thomas Tuchel, and, most importantly, the signing of Denzel Dumfries from Inter Milan after the Dutch right back racked up another Scudetto to his name.
There are a few other heated battles for starting positions at Real Madrid this season like the multiple midfield scraps and then Rodrygo Goes vs. Yan Diomande on the right wing whenever the Brazilian international returns to Real Madrid from his ACL tear in 2027.
Trent Alexander-Arnold needs to raise his game
But no battle is more personal and immediately on the radar than Dumfries vs. Trent. The two right backs are among the best in the world in their positions, and they are totally different players. Trent is the bigger name and can produce more game changing plays, but Dumfries is Jose Mourinho's pick and has a better defensive reputation despite actually being a wing back at Inter with a great back three behind him in the Italian top flight.
Real Madrid need to see Trent Alexander-Arnold elevate his game to superstar status, and Mourinho needs to see him perform his defensive duties to a liking that the demanding Portuguese coaching legend wants to see. Because it is telling to many Madridistas that not only did Mourinho demand Dumfries specifically at the beginning of the transfer window, but he also played the two top right backs pretty evenly during the preseason fixtures.
Alexander-Arnold is in the driver's seat, though. This is his job to lose. But it is still there for him to potentially lose if he is not careful, as Denzel Dumfries is a great player in his own right.
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