It hasn’t taken lengthy for the Spanish press to start out scratching their heads over Trent Alexander-Arnold.
In a bit revealed by AS, the Madrid-based each day brazenly questioned the performances of the previous Liverpool man throughout the Membership World Cup — suggesting he has but to point out why Actual Madrid had been so determined to land him within the first place.
Whereas reward was lavished on supervisor Xabi Alonso for the tactical readability he’s instilling into this new-look Madrid aspect, Trent was singled out because the one ingredient that is still — to cite them — a thriller.
For Liverpool followers who watched him tear up the appropriate flank at Anfield for years, it’ll come as no shock to listen to that his supply remains to be top-class. AS even went as far as to liken his crossing means to that of David Beckham, highlighting a pinpoint ball he whipped in for Gonzalo’s headed purpose towards Juventus.
However that’s about the place the compliments cease.
The tone from AS suggests real confusion about what Trent is definitely providing to the crew outdoors of these moments of technical brilliance. The report famous:
He hardly ever will get to the byline
He seldom overlaps his winger
Diagonal runs? Lacking.
Defensively? Underwhelming.
As an alternative, the Spaniards say his major contribution has been floating in crosses from deep — a task that feels considerably restricted for a participant of his pedigree. Additionally they identified that whereas his profession at Liverpool proves he can function on the very highest stage, his early days at Madrid have left many observers scratching their heads.
This will likely all simply be a part of a tactical bedding-in interval underneath Xabi Alonso, who’s slowly reshaping Madrid right into a crew that fits his concepts — together with the usage of three centre-backs and wing-backs, a system very unfamiliar to Madridistas.
However make no mistake: the Madrid media are watching Trent carefully. And proper now, they’re not fully positive what they’re seeing.