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After months of hypothesis, Trent Alexander-Arnold has confirmed that he will probably be leaving Liverpool on the finish of the season when his contract expires.
His subsequent vacation spot has not been formally introduced, however it’s simply in regards to the worst-kept secret in soccer at this level that he will probably be taking part in for Actual Madrid subsequent season.
Having described the exit from his boyhood membership as “simply the toughest determination I’ve ever made in my life”, the 26-year-old will say his goodbyes over the approaching weeks, and there may be even discuss that he may have the ability to full his transfer to Actual Madrid in time for the Membership World Cup which kicks off in June.
That event might supply the primary indication as to which place Alexander-Arnold will probably be utilized in at Actual Madrid. That’s one of many many intriguing questions that encompass this switch, and there look like three fundamental choices.
The positions that Alexander-Arnold might play for Actual Madrid
Competing with Carvajal at right-back
As an attack-minded right-back all through his lengthy profession at Liverpool, that place stays probably the most pure match for Alexander-Arnold and the function he’s more than likely to occupy initially.
That’s as a result of Dani Carvajal, Actual Madrid’s common right-back for greater than a decade, remains to be recovering from a extreme ACL damage which might hold the Spain worldwide out till November. That ought to make sure that Alexander-Arnold goes straight into the Actual Madrid beginning XI when he joins the membership.
Except contemporary additions are sought at left-back, the attacking play of the Englishman ought to supply a pleasant stability in distinction to the extra defensively-minded Ferland Mendy on the other flank.
Alexander-Arnold ought to get a long term of video games at the beginning of the 2025/26 marketing campaign which might function a possibility to determine himself because the membership’s first selection right-back, by the point that Carvajal returns.

Whereas some will probably be fast to jot down off Carvajal, who will flip 34 in January, after such a severe damage at such a complicated stage in his profession, the competitiveness of the Leganes-born defender shouldn’t be underestimated.
Carvajal was working at a really excessive degree in 2024 previous to damage and was even touted in some quarters as a possible Ballon d’Or candidate, having been topped a European champion for membership and nation final 12 months.
If he can get again to something like that degree, Alexander-Arnold will face an actual battle simply to make the beginning lineup on the Santiago Bernabeu, assuming there are not any main structural modifications that finds a spot for each.
A wing-back function beneath Xabi Alonso?
One doable situation, notably within the occasion that Xabi Alonso takes over from Carlo Ancelotti this summer season in Madrid, is that Alexander-Arnold finally ends up getting used as a wing-back somewhat than a full-back.
That will mark a shift from his days at Liverpool the place he has virtually at all times performed on the fitting of a again 4 beneath Jurgen Klopp and Arne Slot. Nevertheless, he has at all times had license to roam forwards and the transition to a wing-back function shouldn’t be a very troublesome one.

Alonso has tended to favour a 3-4-3 or 3-4-2-1 construction at Leverkusen, and whereas there’s no assure he’d do the identical have been he to maneuver to the Spanish capital, Alexander-Arnold could be the plain candidate for the fitting wing-back function in that system, whereas Carvajal would definitely be able to working because the right-sided central defender in a again three when he returns to health.
An evolution right into a midfielder
Significantly at worldwide degree, the place Alexander-Arnold has struggled to cement an everyday beginning function for England at right-back, there has at all times been discuss of the Liverpool man finally evolving right into a midfielder.
He made quite a lot of begins for Gareth Southgate within the function, and in principle he’s a well-suited to the function given his imaginative and prescient and distinctive ball-playing expertise. Nevertheless, we’ve not but seen sufficient proof to counsel that’s going to be his long-term place.

On one hand, taking part in Alexander-Arnold in midfield would make sense from a Actual Madrid perspective. They’ve badly missed Toni Kroos this season, and the England worldwide is maybe nearer to the German when it comes to his skill to choose a move than another present participant within the Madrid squad.
Within the occasion that Los Blancos follow the same system subsequent time period, and Carvajal returns to health trying sturdy, it’s doable we might see the brand new arrival utilized in a double pivot, and even on the fitting aspect of a three-man midfield that includes two Englishmen.
It’s seemingly whoever the following Actual Madrid coach is will not less than experiment with that method at some stage, though there is no such thing as a actual suggestion that’s Plan A so far as this signing is worried.
Alexander-Arnold himself said “I wish to be the primary full-back to ever do it” when speaking about probably profitable a Ballon d’Or in a Sky Sports activities interview earlier this 12 months, and in his thoughts not less than, it appears clear that he sees a future in his present function, somewhat than as a midfield participant.
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