Real Madrid summer signing earns rare second chance to turn things around

Trent Alexander-Arnold’s debut campaign at Real Madrid has been far from the fairytale many expected when he made the high-profile switch from Liverpool in the summer.

The Englishman arrived with the reputation of being one of Europe’s finest full-backs, but his transition to life in Spain has been anything but smooth.

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In the early weeks of the season, Alexander-Arnold found it difficult to maintain consistency.

His defensive lapses, something that had occasionally surfaced even during his time at Liverpool, were under the microscope at the Santiago Bernabeu.

As a result, Dani Carvajal reclaimed his spot in the starting XI, leaving the England international on the bench more often than not.

To make matters worse, a muscle injury later sidelined him for several weeks, forcing him to watch from the stands as Real Madrid continued to push forward under Xabi Alonso’s guidance.

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However, football often has a way of offering second chances and this could be Alexander-Arnold’s moment to rise.

A second chance for Alexander-Arnold

Stars are aligned in Trent Alexander-Arnold’s favou once again. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

With Carvajal now ruled out for approximately three months, and Federico Valverde not a big fan to fill in as a right-back despite performing well in the role, Xabi Alonso will be counting on him to step up and prove his worth.

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The 26-year-old has not featured since September 16th, when he suffered an injury against Marseille in the Champions League.

Prior to that, he was still finding his rhythm within Real Madrid’s tactical setup. Now, with Carvajal unavailable, the scrutiny surrounding his defensive discipline will only intensify.

Alexander-Arnold knows that the coming months will define his future. His initial struggles for adaptation and the setback of his injury have meant that his presence has barely been felt so far.

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But as he prepares for upcoming fixtures – Valencia and a highly emotional return to Anfield – the Englishman stands at a career crossroads.

This is the moment of truth for Trent Alexander-Arnold. Given the developments, all eyes are now on him to rediscover his best form, prove his worth, and silence his critics once and for all.

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