'Already got a narrative': Guillem Balague says Spanish media have made their mind up on Alexander-Arnold
Below is a summary of the full article. Click here for the full version or go back to LFC Live.net.
Liverpool fans have been following the early days of Trent Alexander-Arnold’s Real Madrid career with extreme interest this summer.
Alexander-Arnold let the Reds fanbase down at the end of last season, running his contract down before joining the Spanish giants for what may as well have been nothing.
It was a disappointing way to end a sparkling Liverpool career, and will forever mean that Alexander-Arnold‘s legacy with his boyhood club is tainted.
Nevertheless, many supporters clearly recognise the appeal of a club such as Madrid, and perhaps some will have even been hoping the Scouser could show his qualities at the Santiago Bernabeu.
So far, that has not happened.
Alexander-Arnold has already been dropped for Dani Carvajal at right-back, with the veteran reportedly expecting to be in the starting XI for the foreseeable future.
With the former Liverpool right-back struggling to get going, Spanish football expert Guillem Balague says the country’s press have made their minds up on Alexander-Arnold already.
Photo by Alberto Gardin/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Perhaps it was never going to be a smooth transition for Alexander-Arnold.
He has never known anything different to Liverpool, after all.
Playing for Madrid is a different beast, with the club seemingly light years away from the family feel within the Liverpool squad.
MORE LIVERPOOL STORIES
READ MORE: Ryan Babel shares what he hopes happens when Trent Alexander-Arnold plays against Liverpool for Real Madrid
Alexander-Arnold seems to be struggling with this, and according to Balague, the press have seized upon his troubles.
“We thought it was going to take a month to see Carvajal in the line-up, but it has taken much less and I have to say that the Spanish media have already got a narrative in place that has to do with Trent,” the journalist told BBC 5 Live Sport.
“‘He’s too shy, he doesn’t fit in, Carvajal will surpass him.’ I hope he hears this and, with the Spanish he can speak, he reads the Spanish media because he’s the type of guy who will say ‘really?
Challenge!’ He loves a challenge, Trent, and he’s got a big one.
“We know he can go up and down the pitch et cetera, but to adapt to the requirements of a Xabi Alonso team and to do it consistently and at the high level expected, Carvajal has got an advantage,” Balague added.
“He can do it straight away, understand it, he knows what Xabi wants and Trent has got an education to be done which may take him a while.
“If that’s the case then Carvajal, who was one of the top players in the world before getting injured, even though he’s 33, he will be there and it will be difficult to take him out of the line-up.”
Alexander-Arnold has been in the news plenty this week despite being out of the picture of English football.
Firstly, it was confirmed that the 26-year-old will return to Anfield with his new team this season, as Real Madrid drew Liverpool in the Champions League.
Secondly, there were a few eyebrows raised when England manager Thomas Tuchel omitted Alexander-Arnold from his squad for the September matches.
The Madrid star has never had the best of times with England and has been left out of selections in the past, but, coupled with his struggles in Spain, it feels like a significant moment in Alexander-Arnold’s career.
Liverpool supporters may not care, and may even revel in a tough period for their former hero, but it will be fascinating to see whether this will have a lasting effect.