Trent Alexander-Arnold’s summer move to Real Madrid has already hit a bump in the road.
The former Liverpool star was left on the bench as Real secured a comfortable victory away at Real Oviedo on Sunday, raising questions about his place in the starting lineup.
A Rocky Introduction to LaLiga
After joining the Spanish giants in the summer, Alexander-Arnold made his first appearances at the Club World Cup.
However, his LaLiga debut didn’t go as smoothly.
In Real Madrid’s home win against Osasuna, he struggled to make an impact, leaving fans and pundits unconvinced by his performance.
Bench Role Against Oviedo
Against Oviedo, Dani Carvajal was chosen to start at right-back, with Alexander-Arnold only coming on in the 87th minute.
It was a brief appearance that did little to change the conversation around his adjustment to life in LaLiga.
Meanwhile, Kylian Mbappe scored twice and Vinicius Jr., also left out of the starting lineup, added a third goal to seal a 3-0 win for Los Blancos.
Fan Reactions Pour In
Social media quickly reacted to Alexander-Arnold’s benching.
One fan commented: “Trent is about to learn a brutal lesson at Real Madrid. But he’s a big boy, he’ll be fine.”
Another added: “Trent Alexander-Arnold, sitting right back on the bench for Real Madrid.”
Some supporters weren’t so sympathetic, noting Carvajal’s strong showing: “Trent Alexander-Arnold, I’m afraid you may be holding the bench for a while. My captain is back.
Solid display from Carvajal.” Others questioned the move entirely: “Trent Alexander-Arnold went to RMA to sit on the bench?”
Looking Ahead
Alexander-Arnold will be eager to prove himself when Real Madrid host Mallorca next weekend.
After a challenging start, the young defender knows that reclaiming a regular spot in the starting eleven will require hard work and consistency.
