Transitioning to a new football club, especially in a foreign country with a different language, presents significant challenges. For Trent Alexander-Arnold, a player who spent his entire career at Liverpool, making his senior debut at just 17, the move to Real Madrid in La Liga represents a major life and career change he is currently navigating.
While historically, English players rarely ventured outside the Premier League, there`s a recent trend of young talents seeking opportunities abroad. Jadon Sancho found success at Borussia Dortmund, Jude Bellingham is excelling at Real Madrid, and Harry Kane now leads the line for Bayern Munich. Alexander-Arnold joins this list following his summer transfer to the Spanish giants. Real Madrid`s decision to pay over $11 million to secure his move ahead of the Club World Cup appears to be paying off by allowing the Englishman extra time to integrate. With Real Madrid preparing for the round of 16 match against Juventus on Tuesday, the focus is now firmly on competing for trophies.
Alexander-Arnold commented on his progress, stating, “The settling-in period is now done, and it`s about kicking on and being the best player that I can be and giving the best with the team, and helping the team win as many games as possible, starting with this competition.”
Real Madrid`s relentless pursuit of victory in every competition is a standard Alexander-Arnold was familiar with from his time at Liverpool, and being at Real has only reinforced this mentality. Despite joining relatively recently on June 1st via FIFA`s special summer transfer window for Club World Cup participants, Alexander-Arnold has integrated well. Credit is due to the coaching staff for providing the focused support needed to make this transition remarkably smooth in less than a month.
Detailing the support he receives, Alexander-Arnold explained, “The manager speaks to me a lot individually to make sure I understand everything that gets said, as other meetings are in Spanish. So he goes out of his way, the staff go out of their way to make sure I understand everything in the game plan. And you step out onto the pitch knowing that it`s the same no matter what club you play for, in international football, you step out there and you`re playing against a team and you`ve got a job to do.”
The atmosphere has been welcoming for Alexander-Arnold, helped by the presence of fellow Englishman Jude Bellingham in the squad. Given the key role wing-backs like Jeremie Frimpong played under Xabi Alonso at Bayer Leverkusen, Alexander-Arnold is expected to be a vital component in Real Madrid`s push to regain the La Liga title. Beyond the tactical adjustments on the pitch, moving from the Premier League to La Liga also requires adapting to a different culture in Spain.
Alexander-Arnold admitted the primary difficulty: “The language is the most difficult thing, but it`s going to take a little bit of time to adapt. I felt confident coming into the game, I felt comfortable. It was always going to take maybe a couple of games to get used to playing with new players, with new lads in a new environment, and with a new coach. That was always going to happen, but I`m happy with the way I`ve settled in. The lads have been very welcoming and made me feel at home, made me feel comfortable, and allow me to play the way I like to play.”
With Real Madrid undergoing changes, transitioning from Carlo Ancelotti to Xabi Alonso, insights like Alexander-Arnold`s highlight Alonso`s key management strength: making players feel settled and motivated, much like he successfully did at Bayer Leverkusen. While managing the “Galácticos” presents a unique challenge, fostering a sense of belonging is crucial for players to give their best. This appears to be happening at Real Madrid, coinciding with opportunities being given to young talents like Arda Guler and Gonzalo Garcia.
A lot must align for Real Madrid to overtake Barcelona and reclaim the La Liga crown. However, securing silverware this summer, starting with the current competition, would serve as a significant step in the right direction, demonstrating that the club is on the correct path under their new leadership.
