Alexander-Arnold pays back Real signing fee – and the ‘new Raul’

There were plenty of eyebrows raised when Real Madrid paid Liverpool around £8.4m for Trent Alexander-Arnold when they could have got him for free just a month later.

Xabi Alonso’s side were determined to sign the right-back in time for the start of their Club World Cup campaign, and they opted to pay the fee to release the 26-year-old from his contract early.

It was certainly a bonus for Liverpool, who looked like losing their prized asset for nothing.

But – on the day Alexander-Arnold would otherwise have been able to sign for the Spanish club – his first month with them has more than paid for their calculated gamble.

Having started every game in Real’s Club World Cup campaign, Alexander-Arnold provided his first assist as 21-year-old striker Gonzalo Garcia further enhanced his growing reputation by heading home his cross to send them past Juventus and into the quarter-finals.

That goal alone was worth an extra £10m for Madrid, with the club having already received about £43m for just reaching the last 16.

Madrid will meet either Borussia Dortmund or Monterrey in the quarter-finals, and could earn up to £125m if they go on to win the tournament.

“Of course it was worth paying the extra money,” former France full-back Gael Clichy told Dazn. “You don’t have time in football, but this competition has given Real Madrid and Trent extra time.

“This has allowed Trent to get used to Real Madrid. He has to be excited by what is to come – and so will Real Madrid.”

How has Alexander-Arnold performed?
This was the second time Alonso has deployed his preferred 5-3-2/3-5-2 formation since he replaced Carlo Ancelotti as Madrid coach, and his new charges – including Alexander-Arnold – certainly appear to be adjusting to the new system.

Alexander-Arnold, who impressed his new employers with his Spanish abilities at his unveiling, has played the full 90 minutes in his past two appearances, growing in confidence with each game.

He endured a mixed start on his debut against Al-Hilal, who caught him out of possession on several occasions and almost scored after the former Liverpool man lost possession near the halfway line. He also won only one of his five duels in that match.

He looked vulnerable at times in his second game of the tournament against Pachuca, but in the 3-0 win over Salzburg – his first in the wing-back position – he was involved in Madrid’s third goal late in the second half and has now repaid Alonso’s faith with his first assist for the club.

“It was a fantastic delivery from Trent,” former Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel told Dazn. “We know he can do that – even though there are still questions defensively. It’s good to see him settle. We knew it would take him time.”

Ex-Netherlands midfielder Edgar Davids echoed those sentiments, saying: “I think he is a good fit for Real Madrid and he will get better.

“If you want to have attacking full-backs, he is one of the key figures in that position in the world. If you want that and you have the speed in front of you, it is ideal.”

Questions remain about some of his defensive work though, as he only won two of his five duels and one of his two tackles.