Trent Alexander-Arnold was recently deployed in a midfield position during Real Madrid's match against Inter, a decision influenced by player suspensions. While the former Liverpool player lined up alongside Federico Valverde, his performance was mixed. He successfully created two scoring opportunities and delivered more crosses than any other Real Madrid player, but struggled to win tackles, and his passing accuracy stood at 83.3%.
Mourinho noted that Alexander-Arnold is not a natural midfielder, suggesting the tactical deployment was circumstantial due to the unavailability of other players. The England international was substituted shortly after Inter scored their first goal in the 77th minute. The resulting whistles from the crowd could have been directed at the team's overall performance rather than solely at Alexander-Arnold.
This was the first competitive match where Alexander-Arnold and fellow right-back Denzel Dumfries started together. While Alexander-Arnold has previously operated in midfield in a pre-season friendly, this particular instance saw him in central roles with Dumfries playing a more advanced position on the same flank. The competition for the right-back position continues, with Alexander-Arnold facing a similar challenge to secure a starting spot as he did last season against Dani Carvajal.
Despite the mixed performance and Mourinho's comments on his positioning, reports indicate that the manager has been impressed with Alexander-Arnold's contributions and the versatility he offers to the squad. Mourinho recognizes that Alexander-Arnold's ability to move into central areas and contribute to attacks from advanced positions distinguishes him from many traditional full-backs. His strengths in passing, crossing, through balls, and set-piece delivery remain key aspects of his game.