Trent Alexander-Arnold ‘not the answer’ to Real Madrid problem as ex-Liverpool star warned he has no chance of eclipsing rival

Trent Alexander-Arnold continues to raise doubts over where he’ll serve Real Madrid best long-term after his mixed LaLiga debut.

That is the verdict from European football expert Andy Brassell, who claims the defender is not the answer to Los Blancos’ major issue.

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Alexander-Arnold left his boyhood club, Liverpool, this summer on what initially looked to be a free transfer to the Bernabeu.

Madrid ultimately ended up paying an £8.4million fee to get him out of his final Reds contract early and into the Club World Cup.

He featured six times but injury ensured he was powerless to prevent the club’s 4-0 semi-final defeat to Paris Saint-Germain.

The 26-year-old then came in for some brutal reviews from Spanish media after his LaLiga debut in a 1-0 win over Osasuna on Tuesday.

And talkSPORT’s Brassell highlighted a wider issue, with Alexander-Arnold not the answer to the squad overhaul that Madrid needs.

The England international was one of three major defensive signings made by Xabi Alonso, alongside Dean Huijsen and Álvaro Carreras.

Brassell said: “Real Madrid are in a sort of bit of a strange place at the moment.

“The last half of last season showed that they weren’t a great team that just needed a few little bits, but actually that they probably needed a mini-overhaul.

“And it’s nice to have Trent Alexander-Arnold, but he’s not the answer to that.

“I think people would like Xabi Alonso to continue that overhaul, but they’re not really in a position to make it happen at the moment, at least not without a sale.

Trent’s poor stats

“It doesn’t seem like Rodrygo, from what we’re hearing this week, is really going anywhere. So, whether they’ve got the ability to make that happen, it’s quite possible they get to the end of the transfer window and don’t make any more recruitment.

“Now, look, I think you look at the players they’ve signed, they’re all defensive players, which are good to have, which are useful for the team.

“But on the other hand, they’re not making you fly off your seat and go, ‘Oh, my God, I must watch Real Madrid this season.’ And ‘Oh, we’re going to be incredible to watch this season.’”

On Tuesday night, Alexander-Arnold started on the right-hand side of a back four alongside fellow summer signings, Dean Huijsen and Alvaro Carreras, and club stalwart, Eder Militao.

He had 77 touches during his 68 minutes – but only one was in Osasuna’s box, and just one of his seven crosses found a teammate.

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“I think with Trent Alexander-Arnold as well, there’s a question as to where he’s going to serve the best long term as well, because we assume that, like medium term, Xabi Alonso is going to [play] three at the back,” Brassell continued.

“But obviously, TAA is an attacking right-back in a back four, mainly.

“So you can think on paper, probably like playing as a right wing-back in a back-three will with the back-three will suit him.

“We can’t really know that yet.”

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Trent has ‘no chance’ of completely eclipsing Carvajal

Alexander-Arnold was replaced by returning club captain and legend Dani Carvajal.

It came just days after Alonso sent the England international a not-so-subtle warning that he’s not guaranteed to start.

Carvajal, who has won five Champions League titles with Madrid, has made over 400 appearances for the Spanish giants.

The Spaniard, who came fourth in the Ballon d’Or last year, is now fully fit, having suffered an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture in October last year

Brassell told talkSPORT: “Carvajal is now back from injury – He’s obviously a very different type of right-back.

“[Like Scott] McTominay [at Napoli], we’re talking about people who are loved not just for what they are on the pitch, but who they are.

“Carvajal definitely falls into that category at Real Madrid. You know, someone who’s a warrior will do anything to win.

“He’s been at the club for absolutely ages, came through the academy, obviously with a little detour via [Bayer] Leverkusen. And so he’s a very popular figure.

“So there’s no chance, I think, of Alexander-Arnold sort of completely eclipsing him. So, yeah, it’d be interesting to see how he fits.”