Real Madrid’s new boy Trent Alexander Arnold has started their latest La Liga game on the bench at Xabi Alonso, suggesting he and Dani Carballard might share right-back duties
Trent Alexander Arnold will have to get used to sharing his right-back duties with Dani Carballard after returning to the bench for Real Madrid’s latest La Liga match.
Alexander Arnold, 26, has confirmed that his contract at Liverpool joined the Spanish giants just before his contract ended earlier this summer, making sure he doesn’t violate his future with the Premier League champions. The Los Blancos paid around £10 million to get him early before the Club World Cup, but Alexander Arnold was dropped for the second Laliga game of the new season, when Carvallar returned from injury.
The English star then recovered to the team for a 2-1 victory over RCD Mallorca before an international break, but found himself back on the bench for a 2-1 victory at Real Sociedad on Saturday.
Before the game, Alonso explained that neither Alexander Arnold nor Kavajal were the first choice, but moved forward and spin, and that such competition was “healthy.”
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“Fortunately, we’re in a healthy competition within the team, which is good for the team and the players,” Alonso said. “They have to be pushed to do their best. You know there is a strong competition. You see your teammates ready to play.
“So far, Trent and Carbahal have impacted other positions, whether it’s centre-back or wide, and I think that’s really healthy for the team’s day to day.
Alexander Arnold did not leave England during an international break, choosing to look into Thomas Tuschel’s other right-back options. He explained: “I talked to Trent, and it was a difficult call, but I wanted him to hear it from me.
“It’s all in the mix, but it’s a competitive decision, and just to make the competition a little more painful. First and foremost, I think Trent is a player who needs to feel trust and love from his manager, his teammates, his club, his country, his fans. He needs it.
“Reese is a little ahead in this position considering what he did for us in the last two camps and how he went with Chelsea. And then he went to Tino Libramento for the rhythm he has and he gave us the option to cover both sides.”
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