Trent Alexander-Arnold begins his second season at Real Madrid with something to prove—and a new manager determined to make the most of his unusual skill set.

A difficult first year in Madrid

Alexander-Arnold’s debut campaign at the Bernabeu was disrupted by two muscle injuries, limiting him to 30 appearances in all competitions. His inconsistent form, combined with that lack of availability, contributed to his omission from Thomas Tuchel’s England squad for the World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Yet the season ended on a more encouraging note. After Alvaro Arbeloa replaced Xabi Alonso, Alexander-Arnold became Madrid’s first-choice right-back and started every Champions League knockout tie against Benfica, Manchester City and Bayern Munich. Club sources have urged patience, pointing to the six-year contract that reflects Madrid’s long-term belief in the former Liverpool player.

There were still setbacks. A defensive lapse allowed Celta Vigo to equalise in March, while Alexander-Arnold was dropped for the derby against Atletico Madrid after arriving 20 minutes late to training. His apology and willingness to accept the punishment were viewed positively inside the club.

“Absolutely brilliant” with “world-class ball control, passing and shooting and good acceleration,” one coaching-staff figure said, while acknowledging that he can “switch off at times.”

Madrid want his passing to reshape games

Alexander-Arnold’s attacking quality was already evident in his five assists last season. He created Vinicius Junior’s winner in the March derby and supplied Kylian Mbappe for Madrid’s goal in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final against Bayern Munich.

His range of passing also produced one of the defining moments of the tie. In the second leg at the Allianz Arena, he sent an inch-perfect ball into Mbappe, whose effort was saved by Manuel Neuer.

Jose Mourinho sees those qualities as central to his rebuild. In planning the new project, the Portuguese coach asked Madrid to sign another right-back—not necessarily to displace Alexander-Arnold, but to provide a dependable complement to him.

Mourinho’s staff regard Alexander-Arnold as a “highly versatile profile” who can create numerical superiority from the full-back position. Although it is not the primary plan, Mourinho is also keen to use him in midfield, a role he often assumed during his Liverpool career.

The aim is to combine Alexander-Arnold’s vision and long passing with the pace of Vinicius Junior, Mbappe and Yan Diomande, the 19-year-old winger signed from RB Leipzig in a deal worth up to €140 million.

Dumfries adds serious competition

Real Madrid moved quickly to sign Denzel Dumfries from Inter in July, paying his €25 million release clause. The Netherlands international brings experience, physicality and tactical flexibility: he can play as either a full-back or wing-back and started the 2023 and 2025 Champions League finals for Inter.

Dumfries is expected to receive significant playing time and could start Madrid’s La Liga opener away to Espanyol. His arrival gives Mourinho a reliable alternative while allowing the manager to manage Alexander-Arnold’s workload and use him in different positions.

A longer preparation window

People close to Alexander-Arnold say he has enjoyed working with Mourinho and has done everything possible to impress the 63-year-old coach. He spent the summer working with specialists, then began pre-season with a level of preparation rarely available to him since breaking into Liverpool’s first team.

He started two of Madrid’s four summer friendlies, having joined the club’s work in mid-July. That extended preparation follows an emotionally demanding first year, when he was quickly thrust into Club World Cup action after leaving Liverpool.

For Alexander-Arnold, Mourinho’s arrival offers a reset. Madrid have not abandoned their belief in him; instead, they are building competition around him and asking him to become more than a conventional right-back. His second season will show whether that trust can turn his elite passing into sustained influence in the Spanish capital.