Trent Alexander-Arnold reality clear as Xabi Alonso view on Real Madrid rival speaks volumes

Xabi Alonso has talked up the influence and importance of Dani Carvajal at Real Madrid - the man in direct competition with Trent Alexander-Arnold. The England international moved to Spain in the summer, ending his career-long association with Liverpool.

Carvajal and Alexander-Arnold have started two games a piece in La Liga so far this season, suggesting that the right-back berth will very much be shared. The expectation was that Alexander-Arnold was coming in to be handed the role, but he featured for just eight minutes against Real Sociedad at the weekend.

Carvajal, now 33, has continued to defy his advancing years having been a crucial figure for Los Blancos for more than a decade. He played alongside Alonso when Real won the European Cup in 2014 and has continued to pick up Champions League winners' medals.

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He's excelled since returning from an ACL injury and the Real boss insists healthy competition will exist between him and Alexander-Arnold - and the way in which Alonso hailed Carvajal's leadership qualities proves he will remain a firm part of the first-team picture.

He said: "There's one aspect that hasn't changed much: the competitive gene he has. Because he came in 2013-14 and he already had it. Since he arrived from Bayer Leverkusen, he was very important, and that first season... he gave us so much, even winning the Champions League.

"Over the years, that hasn't changed much, but his personality, maturity, influence; what it means to be a captain with his experience, as well as the respect his teammates have for him and what he has to transmit, that responsibility he has towards the group, is something that has evolved.

"Those leaders we have to keep... not building, but flourishing within a locker room, are fundamental. Carva is one of them, although there are many others we need to create a strong core, to pull the rest together. With Carva, you see that over time, he's embraced it, just like others did and those he saw. Now, it's his turn."

Alexander-Arnold commanded the right-back slot during his time at Anfield but now has serious competition and is having to adapt to a role where he's not guaranteed to start. The 26-year-old is looking to follow on Jude Bellingham footsteps by flourishing in the Spanish capital, but Alonso has laid down the challenge

He said: “So far, Trent and Carvajal have both had an impact in other positions as well, whether that be at centre-back or out wide. I think it's a really healthy thing for the day-to-day in the squad, so nobody feels disconnected. Whoever deserves it the most will play. That will be the case throughout the year.”

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