RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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See the full story · 2 sources27-year-old Real Madrid star has surprised Jose Mourinho most during preseason – report
Real Madrid bid goodbye to long-serving right-back and club captain Dani Carvajal at the end of the 2025-26 campaign.
The Spaniard has been a part of Madrid’s folklore over the last decade, and he left huge boots behind despite not featuring much last season.
The club already had Trent Alexander-Arnold in the ranks, but the Englishman had endured a difficult first season in Spain.
Los Blancos proceeded to sign Denzel Dumfries from Inter Milan, but there was still some concern regarding both right-back options.
However, according to Defensa Central , Trent has emerged as Jose Mourinho’s biggest positive surprise during Real Madrid’s pre-season, with the English defender making a strong early impression on his new manager.
Mourinho has been particularly impressed by Trent’s performances in the club’s opening friendlies after the right-back returned to training in outstanding physical and mental condition.
Trent bounces back after a difficult season and summer
Alexander-Arnold has made a strong impression so far. (Picture credit: Instagram/@realmadrid).
The report claims Alexander-Arnold arrived at Valdebebas determined to bounce back from one of the toughest periods of his career.
After missing out on England’s World Cup squad, the 27-year-old spent the summer working extensively on both his fitness and mentality with the aim of becoming a key player again.
Those efforts seem to have paid off. Mourinho is said to have been pleasantly surprised by the level Trent has shown since pre-season began.
Mourinho expected to spend significant time improving Trent’s tactical understanding, but instead found a player performing at a much higher level than anticipated.
His display against Fiorentina reinforced that impression, with Trent standing out alongside Denzel Dumfries as one of Madrid’s best performers.
The concerns with Trent and Dumfries
Trent’s woes at right-back have been well documented for quite some time now.
Without an iota of doubt, the Englishman is the most creative right-back of his generation, but his defensive awareness has not always been up to the mark.
His alternative in that position, Denzel Dumfries, has a different issue. He is very good going forward and in recovery defending.
However, the Dutchman’s best football has always come in a back-five formation, where he is allowed to play as a wing-back.
Thus, Jose might have been worried about how to get the best out of his right-back options. It is safe to say that both players have started well to ease those concerns.
Competition remains fierce
Dumfries will compete with Trent in the first-team. (Photo by Christian Bruna/Getty Images)
Despite Trent’s encouraging start, the battle for the right-back position is far from settled.
Dumfries has also impressed since arriving, giving Mourinho two high-level options for the role.
The Portuguese coach is open to rotating between them depending on the opposition, while he has also experimented with using both players in the same line-up.
This tactical flexibility could allow Jose to play both players on the right flank against opposition where crossing could be a viable threat.
For now, though, the encouraging sign is that Trent has made a great start. The next important step is to maintain that consistency, and it remains to be seen how the 27-year-old gets on under Jose.
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