The Shiro Corporation Trent Alexander-Arnold officially made his debut with Real Madrid when facing Al-Hilal in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. Despite playing in the iconic white uniform of Los Blancos, Alexander-Arnold's performance has not yet fully echoed the rock and roll style touted by coach Xabi Alonso before the match.
Alonso, in the press conference, mentioned that the moment of truth has arrived and they are ready to start an energetic game. However, what happened on the field was different. Madrid could only manage a draw against Al-Hilal after Federico Valverde's 90th-minute penalty was saved by goalkeeper Bono.
For Alexander-Arnold, this is not just a regular debut. It is a big step in his career, moving from Liverpool to a club with extraordinarily high expectations. However, his first appearance shows that adaptation is not easy. From the warm-up, it was clear that the English right-back still seemed awkward and cautious in every move he made.
He didn't do much penetration like he usually does at Anfield. It was only after halftime that we saw a change in instructions from Alonso that made him more active in attacking. In one of the quick counterattacks, Alexander-Arnold also played a part before Rodrygo provided the assist to Gonzalo Garcia for the opening goal.
Unfortunately, that advantage didn't last long. Ruben Neves equalized for Al-Hilal from the penalty spot. After that, Alexander-Arnold briefly regained confidence before being substituted out in the 65th minute, replaced by Lucas Vasquez. The hot and humid conditions in Miami posed a unique challenge for the player accustomed to the English climate.
"This is a very proud moment for me," Alexander-Arnold said after the game.
"Playing in this heat is very challenging and far different from in England," he added.
Although it wasn't a perfect debut like Jude Bellingham, who is now in the spotlight for Madrid, Alexander-Arnold still received an extraordinary welcome from the fans at Hard Rock Stadium. His presence even became the main highlight in the club's official social media posts, indicating the global status he possesses.
Real Madrid even paid £8.4 million to Liverpool just to ensure Alexander-Arnold could play in this competition, indicating how important the role prepared for him is.
Read one Spanish media like AS Daily jointly reminding that Alexander-Arnold carries "a statistical burden that cannot be ignored, namely the status as the defender most frequently bypassed by opponents in the Premier League since 2016.
"He has extraordinary quality when holding the ball, but he is also a defender, and must be able to defend," asserts Alonso.
Now, all eyes are on how Alexander-Arnold will adapt and live up to high expectations at a club as big as Real Madrid.
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