Trent Arrives but the Captain Remains: Why Dani Carvajal Looks Set to Keep Real Madrid’s Right Back Spot

Real Madrid’s summer fireworks featured one headline-grabbing move that stunned world football. Trent Alexander-Arnold left Anfield to join the white shirt in what looked like a seismic challenge to Dani Carvajal’s long-standing hold on the right back berth. Early signs from training, selection decisions, and people close to the squad suggest that this story will be less about a two-horse race and more about a veteran refusing to hand over the keys without a fight. Xabi Alonso has a choice on his hands, and evidence so far points to Carvajal starting ahead of the new signing for the foreseeable future. 

Why Carvajal Still Has The Edge

Carvajal is more than a name on the team sheet. The 33-year-old embodies Real Madrid’s defensive identity in a way that goes beyond stats. Experience at the highest level, a deep understanding of the club’s tactical DNA, and a fierce leadership presence make him a manager’s safe pair of hands in big matches. Sources close to the player have told reporters that those inside Carvajal’s circle expect him to remain in the starting eleven for a long time if he stays fit and sharp.

That confidence is not conjured from nostalgia alone. Carvajal returned to full fitness this summer after a lengthy recovery and immediately showed the kind of defensive sharpness that earned him his place for years. Selection choices since the preseason and the opening rounds of the LaLiga campaign have reflected a clear vote of trust in his readiness. 

A manager’s instinct in elite sport often tips towards reliability over novelty when the margin for error is small. Xabi Alonso arrives at the Bernabéu with a reputation for tactical nuance and bold ideas. Real Madrid’s new coach has publicly refused to single out either player as unquestionably first choice, signalling an intention to evaluate both players in context.

The Spanish has done the same for every position. Rodrygo is a big example of why no one is a guaranteed starter. Practical considerations such as match importance, opponent profile, and Carvajal’s chemistry with the rest of the back line matter more to Alonso than the fanfare surrounding a summer signing. Early evidence suggests that Alonso prefers continuity when it delivers stability. 

What Trent Brings And Why He May Need Time

Trent Alexander-Arnold signed a six-year contract and arrived from Liverpool with a reputation for creative passing, set-piece mastery, and an attacking spark that has reshaped how modern full-backs are judged. Clubs rarely recruit a player of his standing without a long-term vision. Real Madrid banked on his ability to add a new dimension to their build-up play, offer exquisite passing between the lines, and supply chances from the right flank. The club’s official announcement underlined how much they believe he can contribute. 

Expectations do not always equal instant starts. Alexander Arnold must adapt to a new league, new teammates, and the ironclad demands of a dressing room that prizes tactical discipline. Early reports from friendly matches and the first competitive fixtures indicated that Trent is still calibrating to Real Madrid’s defensive requirements.

Some pundits and former players have raised concerns about his readiness to slot into the usual Madrid rhythms without compromising the defensive balance. A summer arrival can be disruptive in the short term, while it pays off in the long term. Fans who look only at the transfer fee might miss that adaptation curves are normal for even the most accomplished players. 

Real Madrid’s squad depth also complicates the picture. The club has other options who can fill the right side of defence in rotated roles. Tactical tweaks where Carvajal plays in a more conservative role and Trent is introduced later in matches, or where one is used for domestic cups and the other for European games, represent practical ways Alonso could exploit both players’ strengths without destabilising the starting eleven. Reports suggest the coaching staff are already exploring such hybrid solutions. 

How Xabi Alonso Can Manage The Dilemma

Xabi Alonso’s managerial profile fits a careful balancing act. He has shown that he will not shy away from using a player out of position to keep the team fluid.

Creative solutions on the right side could include shifting Trent into a more advanced role in certain fixtures, using him as a right-sided midfielder when the team needs greater control, or rotating based on opponent and competition. Alonso’s record at Bayer Leverkusen of mixing youth with experience while preserving a winning core indicates he will prioritise team shape first and individual star power second. 

Training performances matter. Match day impact matters even more. Carvajal’s immediate priority will be to prove that a disrupted year is behind him and that he can still produce the defensive reassurance Madrid needs in marquee games.

Trent’s pathway to the starting eleven runs through consistent displays that show he can both create and not concede. The manager’s job will be to find minutes for both without undermining the club’s collective defensive standards. Media narratives that pitch this as an overnight coup for the new signing ignore the small print of football management. 

What The Fan Base Should Expect Next

Real Madrid fans love drama that ends in silverware. Short-term turbulence around a right-back competition will be forgiven if the team delivers trophies. For now, expect close monitoring of training reports, rotation in less important games, and tactical experiments in the early weeks of the season.

The most likely scenario is that Carvajal starts big matches while Trent works his way into a starting role as the season unfolds, unless either player forces a different hand with exceptional or disastrous form. The club’s hierarchy invested in Trent because they see a future. That future might not start today. Real Madrid’s best chance to win everything is to let the two players push each other while ensuring the team’s fundamentals remain intact. 

This story will be watched closely by every rival in Europe because it speaks to a larger truth. Top teams buy talent to evolve. Evolution takes time. A legendary captain can still hold a place by showing he is not finished. Managers like Alonso will prize the team over the headline. Fans will get to enjoy a tactical chess match where the moves are made on the training ground and resolved on match day. Keep an eye on selection patterns over the next month. Those patterns will tell the real tale about who wins the right back crown at Real Madrid.