Alexander-Arnold Shines in Real Madrid’s Victory Amid Transfer Speculations

omidbasir- Trent Alexander-Arnold made just his sixth league start of the season during Saturday’s commanding 4-1 victory over Real Sociedad, propelling Real Madrid to the top of the La Liga table with their eighth consecutive league win. The 27-year-old right-back recorded his second league assist of the campaign, setting up Gonzalo Garcia for a goal in the fifth minute of this resounding home success.

Alexander-Arnold has faced a fragmented season at Real Madrid, with limited game time and inconsistency leading to speculation about a potential return to the Premier League. Notably, Manchester City is reportedly interested in him as they prepare to revamp their defense, with a new right-back prioritized for Pep Guardiola’s squad.

Following his impressive performance on his first league start of the year, coach Álvaro Arbeloa expressed admiration for the former Liverpool star, asserting that Real Madrid is fortunate to have Alexander-Arnold in their ranks. In a post-match interview with Real Madrid TV, Arbeloa stated: “We’re not going to discover anything new about Trent. It was a pleasant surprise to see his understanding of the game and his ability to identify spaces. These attributes are crucial for a coach, as we value players who comprehend our game plan.”

Arbeloa highlighted that Alexander-Arnold’s contributions extend beyond merely passing the ball to initiate play, noting his capability to adapt to the team’s requirements. He was chosen to start over Dani Carvajal, who returned from injury at the same time. Carvajal was substituted in for the last half hour of the match, with Arbeloa praising Alexander-Arnold’s intelligence and adaptability, stating: “He is not your typical full-back who stays wide; he can also operate centrally. We aim for players who can interchange positions, and we are fortunate to have someone like him.”

In addition, Arbeloa commended Vinicius Junior for his remarkable performance, which included a brace against Real Sociedad. After missing the previous match due to suspension, he has been performing at an exceptional level. Arbeloa remarked: “Vinicius has been outstanding for the past month, not just in this match. He consistently impacts games positively.”

Kylian Mbappé was not utilized during the win over Real Sociedad, coming off a full 90 minutes in the previous match where he scored his 23rd league goal of the season. Arbeloa addressed concerns regarding the French forward, explaining: “Mbappé has been managing discomfort in his left knee for a while now. He gives his best effort every time he steps on the pitch. Today, we opted not to take any risks with Tuesday’s match in mind.”

Real Madrid is set to face Benfica in the Champions League playoffs, both teams vying for a place in the last-16. The first leg will take place at the Estadio da Luz on Tuesday night, marking Real Madrid’s return to Lisbon since Anatoliy Trubin’s dramatic 98th-minute header ensured Benfica qualified for the playoffs at Marseille’s expense, while Real Madrid narrowly missed out on a top-eight finish.