More Spanish Lessons Than Minutes Played: Flop of the Window?

More Spanish Lessons Than Minutes Played: Flop of the Window?

For a transfer that garnered a year’s worth of coverage, split fanbases between love and hatred, and generally led to the temporary breakdown of the city of Liverpool, Trent Alexander-Arnold’s move to Real Madrid hasn’t gone as anyone expected.

Trent Alexander-Arnold, Xabi Alonso, Emilio Butragueño and Dean Huijsen laid tributes to Diogo Jota and Andre Silva at Anfield this evening ahead of Real Madrid's visit to Anfield tomorrow night ❤️ pic.twitter.com/dd1vBBi8px

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) November 3, 2025

Linked with Los Blancos before eventually signing on the dotted line in the summer, the Spanish club even paid a £10 million fee to the Reds in order to bring in the man now going by Trent as soon as possible, despite the deal technically being classed as a free transfer.

One of the most highly anticipated Madrid signings in years, and on his way to join countryman Jude Bellingham at Europe’s most successful club, few could see the move being anything other than a success.

However, whatever Trent had built his lifelong dream up to be, it has proven anything but living the dream.

From Right Back to Left Back On The Bench

Things started fine at the Club World Cup: TAA started Madrid’s first five games at the tournament, and even notched an assist for Gonzalo Garcia’s winner in the first knockout round against Juventus.

Yes, his defending left more than something to be desired, but this was no news after his well-publicised defensive shortcomings while on Merseyside - in any case, it hadn’t stopped him from becoming one of the world’s best right backs.

However, between Madrid’s elimination from the competition and the start of the La Liga season, something changed. New manager Xabi Alonso has always been one to pick on merit, and on current form, Alexander-Arnold did not deserve a starting spot.

First win in white! 🤍 pic.twitter.com/x9r4qTPto1

— Trent Alexander-Arnold (@TrentAA) June 22, 2025

He did play from the start in two of the club's opening four league games, but as of the time of writing, he is yet to complete the full 90 minutes since the Juventus fixture back in July. Of course, there is competition in his position – six-time Champions League winner Dani Carvajal poses as a menacing competitor at right-back - but the simple fact of the matter is that the Englishman has yet to make any significant impact at his new club.

This was only underlined when, six minutes into his Champions League debut for Los Blancos, he went down holding his hamstring with a resigned look in his eyes. The strain ruled him out for over a month, and despite making the matchday squad for the last two games, he is yet to return to the field.

Making The Best Of It

At least his transition to life in Spain has been smooth, as Trent revealed during his first interview at the club that he spoke fluent Spanish. Bear in mind that his move to Real Madrid was confirmed less than a month before this interview, although there had been rumblings of the two parties attempting to strike a deal for many months prior.

So when Trent appeared in front of the camera, fluently speaking the dialect of his new home country, Liverpool fans quite rightly felt betrayed - how long had the “normal kid from Liverpool” been planning on leaving them?

Many months, one must assume - learning a new language is a tricky talent in itself, much more so when the Scouse accent is added to the mix (sorry, Scousers).

anyone thinking about clapping trent, just remember he was taking spanish classes during this moment. I want anfield to be hell for him tonight pic.twitter.com/LChReTN1ZT

— morgan (@morganclee) November 4, 2025

It has been pointed out on social media that Trent has played a grand total of 608 minutes for Real Madrid - equivalent to less than seven full games of football. While it is unlikely he has taken as many Spanish lessons as he has played minutes for the club, it is certainly plausible that he has spent that many hours (equivalent to around three and a half weeks) learning his new language, time he could have instead put towards upping his defensive ability.

So, in 10 appearances for Real Madrid, Trent has played two full 90s (both at the CWC), has notched one assist (also CWC), and may genuinely have taken part in more Spanish interviews than competitive games.

While the injury certainly saw his progress stagnate, even before that there was no promise that he would break into Xabi Alonso’s starting plans any time soon, and people are already labelling him the flop of the transfer window.

Trent-Alexander Arnold's mural has been vandalised ahead of his return to Anfield this evening. pic.twitter.com/9eqZDPddaq

— 𝒍𝒊𝒍𝒄𝒉𝒊𝒃𝒘𝒊𝒃𝒘𝒊 𝑫𝒂 𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒊 (@fahdswaleh) November 4, 2025

However, with Carvajal out injured, and the Englishman returning to full fitness, tonight's mammoth clash with his old club, a return akin to that of the prodigal son, represents the perfect opportunity to show Liverpool what they are missing, and Real Madrid what they purchased. It has certainly been an uphill climb for the 27-year-old so far, but if he can make his mark tonight, a precedent will finally have been set.