Below is a summary of the full article. Click here for the full version or go back to LFC Live.net

On August 19, 2025, Trent Alexander-Arnold made his La Liga debut for Real Madrid in a 1-0 victory against Osasuna, following his summer transfer from Liverpool. He had previously debuted for Real Madrid on June 18, 2025, during the FIFA Club World Cup group stage against Al-Hilal, which ended in a 1-1 draw. Real Madrid secured Alexander-Arnold’s signing with a six-year contract announced in May 2025, paying Liverpool a fee reportedly between €6.2m and €10m to ensure his eligibility for the Club World Cup. Upon joining, he was assigned the number 12 shirt, changing from the number 66 he wore at Liverpool, and shortened his shirt name from “Alexander-Arnold” to “Trent” to avoid confusion among Spanish fans.

During his La Liga debut, Alexander-Arnold struggled to make a significant impact. Despite being the summer acquisition for Real Madrid, his performance was described as underwhelming. He managed only one accurate cross out of seven, failed to win any duels, and his long balls were mostly misplaced. Strategically, he was often isolated on the right flank due to Real Madrid’s attacking focus on the left, which limited his involvement and effectiveness. At times, he drifted centrally in an attempt to contribute but still found few opportunities given the team’s playstyle. Critics noted that the Real Madrid side had yet to adjust fully to incorporate Alexander-Arnold's strengths into their attack, with expectations that coach Xabi Alonso would find ways to better utilize him going forward.

Real Madrid’s narrow victory was secured by a second-half penalty from Kylian Mbappé, who scored Real’s only goal. Fans noted some tactical misalignment between Alexander-Arnold’s crossing style and Mbappé’s heading ability. Overall, Alexander-Arnold’s debut highlighted the early challenges he faces adapting to La Liga and integrating into a new tactical system that contrasts with his previous role at Liverpool.




PP