Silver-tongued Trent Alexander-Arnold finds just the right words on his Real Madrid debut, writes IAN HERBERT
Share this @internewscast.com

His opening words were ‘Buenos dias a todos’ (‘Hello to you all’) and since Trent Alexander-Arnold had stepped up to speak with no notes, the audience of Real Madrid dignitaries assumed this would be the extent of his diplomatically rehearsed Spanish.

But he continued, sentence after sentence, without a moment’s hesitation, building an immaculate one-minute speech in what sports paper Diario AS described as ‘perfect’ Spanish.

‘I have a lot of desire to show the Madridistas how I play,’ he said in the language of his new home. ‘I’m aware of the responsibilities.’ He concluded with a nod to Real’s famous anthem Hala Madrid!…y nada mas (‘Hail Madrid and nothing else’) by saying: ‘Gracias and hala Madrid!’ Gareth Bale this was not.

But at his presentation as a Real player, Beckham merely said, ‘Thank you, you’ve made me a very happy man’, in English. They have never witnessed an introduction like Thursday’s.

Later, at Alexander-Arnold’s inaugural press conference — which attracted a far smaller crowd than Beckham’s — there was the rather awkward question of how his Spanish got to be so good when he has supposedly been wracked with indecision about whether to leave Liverpool over recent months.

Trent Alexander-Arnold spoke fluent Spanish without notes at his Real Madrid unveiling

Trent Alexander-Arnold spoke fluent Spanish without notes at his Real Madrid unveiling 

His mother, father, and two brothers were in the audience with girlfriend Estelle Behnke (right) as he spoke

His mother, father, and two brothers were in the audience with girlfriend Estelle Behnke (right) as he spoke 

David Beckham may have had more fanfare but did not say more than a few words

David Beckham may have had more fanfare but did not say more than a few words 

His declaration that ‘this is a very exciting day that I’ve been waiting for, for a long time’ did not exactly dampen suspicions that he had not been totally focused on Arne Slot.

He then tried, not altogether convincingly, to row back a little. ‘By waiting “a long time” it was a couple of weeks, not years!’ he said. ‘But I am very excited to be here.’

That is the tightrope the 26-year-old walked, wanting to convey his delight with new horizons, yet not wanting to offend those he has left behind, where his departure for a mere £10million, virtually out of contract, provoked such a negative response last month.

But in that minute or so of impeccable Spanish and in the subsequent discussion, we saw an individual balancing self-confidence and big ambition with understatement, modesty and the lack of a raging ego. One who, after 20 years, is ready to strike out beyond Liverpool in a way some players from that city never did. It was impossible not to think, ‘Good luck to you.’

There had been jet-black storm clouds over the Spanish capital late on Wednesday, the day he flew out here, and a fair few bumpy landings around Madrid’s Barajas Airport. The uncomfortable intensity of what he was getting into also quickly became known to him.

Real Madrid TV’s ‘Bienvenido, Alexander-Arnold’ special was up and running hours before he did the usual introductory rituals, including endless ‘thumbs up’ photocalls and signatures.

The show saw him gazing out of the back window of a limousine on the drive to the vast landscaped training complex at Valdebebas in searing morning heat. Ciudad Real Madrid is so vast that buggies are supplied to get around it. It is a far cry from Liverpool’s old Melwood training ground, where as a boy he would peer through gaps in the grey walls, trying to glimpse his heroes.

Alexander-Arnold will hope to be more beloved by Madridistas than Gareth Bale was

Alexander-Arnold will hope to be more beloved by Madridistas than Gareth Bale was

Alexander-Arnold, who has so far only represented Liverpool during his entire career after coming through their youth ranks, admitted it was a 'dream come true' to play for Real Madrid

Alexander-Arnold, who has so far only represented Liverpool during his entire career after coming through their youth ranks, admitted it was a ‘dream come true’ to play for Real Madrid

Spain’s press obsessed over the fact that he would be prevented from taking the ‘66’ jersey which he made iconic at Liverpool. First-team players in La Liga may not take numbers above 25. The maximum of 11 characters for a name on the back of a Real jersey also meant he would be merely ‘Trent’, Marca calculated.

Alexander-Arnold revealed he had reached his own decision about what he would be called.

‘I always found that, in Europe, the whole name situation confused a lot of people, with it being double-barrelled,’ he said.

‘They called me Alex, Arnold, Alexander, Trent. There’s a lot to go on, so let’s make it easy. Trent on the back. That’s what people can call me.’

A man with his own identity, then, and — he claimed — one with his own mind. Much has been made of the part his ‘very good friend’ and England teammate Jude Bellingham played in persuading him to come here, though he played that down.

‘We spoke,’ he said. ‘But it wasn’t exactly what people thought it was. A lot of people thought he had a huge part in me coming here, but the club spoke for itself. It was a huge chance.’

Alexander-Arnold did not discuss Thomas Tuchel’s observation that the rage Bellingham displayed at the end of England’s defeat by Senegal this week is part of a ‘repulsive’ pattern of behaviour.

But the clarity and sure-footedness of the man in the immaculate black suit seemed far removed from the terrified Michael Owen, another Liverpool star who arrived here in 2004.

Owen was so conflicted about leaving Liverpool for this place that he wept for a good part of the drive to Liverpool Airport and was so traumatised by an introductory ritual of doing keepy-ups on the Bernabeu turf that he smashed a series of balls into the stands instead.

The star will hope to hit the ground running at the Club World Cup after a long Anfield farewell

The star will hope to hit the ground running at the Club World Cup after a long Anfield farewell

Alexander-Arnold, dressed impeccably in a black suit, discussed his shirt name change

Alexander-Arnold, dressed impeccably in a black suit, discussed his shirt name change 

Alexander-Arnold arrives with a close friend in the camp, unlike Owen, who always found his compatriot Beckham to be a remote figure here, with bigger fish to fry.

In Real’s new manager Xabi Alonso, there is also a manager whose liking for a 3-4-2-1 system at Bayer Leverkusen suggests the new wing back can flourish. Alonso, of course, was one of Liverpool’s 2005 Champions League winners, a team which Alexander-Arnold loved.

‘I told him he was a bit of an idol of mine growing up,’ Alexander- Arnold said. ‘Watching him pass a ball influenced me to train harder at that. I explained this to him.

‘He is a new manager and he has to get his ideas across to the team. It might take some time, but I am excited. I will be a sponge around him, trying to soak up all the information I can.’

His talent will probably be more appreciated here, in a country where more weight is put on wing backs’ creative merits than the kind of defensive limitations which have led to some criticism at home.

‘It’s not something I’ve really thought about,’ Alexander- Arnold said. ‘I don’t know if I will be appreciated more.

‘Whether I am or not by fans or people, it doesn’t really bother me that much. It is what it is. As long as the manager and players appreciate me, then whatever.’

The ‘12’ jersey he will wear, handed to him by club president Florentino Perez in front of 15 replica Champions League trophies in the complex’s trophy room, has historic implications for full backs. It served legendary full back and captain Marcelo well, as he held it throughout his 16 years at the club.

Real boss Xabi Alonso was one of Alexander-Arnold's heroes growing up

Real boss Xabi Alonso was one of Alexander-Arnold’s heroes growing up 

As Alexander-Arnold spoke, your eye drifted to a small, black and white image called ‘Palmares’ — which translates as ‘list of winners’ — pinned to the wall to his right. It is a formidable reminder of all the silverware this club has won and the history and expectation which go with it.

The Club World Cup is not the same target for cynicism in Spain that it is in the UK because Real are desperate to lay claim to being its first winners.

‘This is the club of 15 European Cups,’ Perez told him. ‘You will soon be engulfed by the magic of mysticism of this club. You will soon see what Madrid is.

‘Every trophy pushes us forward to try to win the next one and the next one is the Club World Cup. You are going to see very soon what it means to be followed by 650million Real Madrid fans worldwide.’

On this day at least, all the new recruit could respond with was words. ‘I think me speaking Spanish surprised a lot of people,’ he said before heading off into his new life.

‘For me, it was important to do that. Have a good start. Get off on the right foot.’

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like

England’s Bowling Issues: Breaking Unwanted Records in India Series, Faltering Pace Attack in Ashes Chase, and Future Strategies

Discussing the Ashes might be frowned upon when England is in the…

Diogo Jota’s 200mph Lamborghini: Liverpool Player and Brother in £180k Sports Car Lose Control During Overtake Attempt

Liverpool star Diogo Jota and his younger brother Andre are understood to have been driving…

Tottenham Unveils Stylish 2025/26 Away Kit Celebrating Champions League Comeback

Tottenham Hotspur has unveiled its eye-catching new away kit for the 2025/26…

Kalvin Phillips Joins West Ham on Loan from Man City, Future Remains Uncertain

Kalvin Phillips has completed his move to West Ham, joining on-loan from…

How Derby’s Faith is Being Restored After Six Tumultuous Years: The Influence of Two Key Leaders, Personalized Strategies, and Cricket Experts

There is something brewing at the western end of Brian Clough Way.…

Boxer and Influencer Stefi Cohen Arrested on Domestic Violence Charge Following Last Year’s Leak of Ex’s New Partner’s Photos

Former powerlifter and now a professional boxer, Stefi Cohen, has been detained…

Burnley Turned Down Deal with Two-Time Premier League Champion Over £60-a-Week Wage Disagreement

What if we told you Michael Essien could have been a Burnley…

Celebrating 30 Years: Unveiling the New Retro Jersey

Major League Soccer have revealed the official jersey for the 2025 MLS…

THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO WOMEN’S EUROS: Top Contenders, Important Players, and Off-Field Drama as the Lionesses Pursue Victory Once More

The Lionesses kick off their Women’s European Championship campaign on Saturday as…

Virgil van Dijk promises support to Diogo Jota’s family in heartfelt homage after the tragic passing of his teammate of five years, expressing his ‘heartbreak’

Virgil van Dijk has promised to always be available for Diogo Jota’s…

Viktor Gyokeres is reportedly set to give up £1.7 million to pursue a £70 million dream transfer to Arsenal, following his breakup with his Portuguese actress girlfriend, allowing him to be free of any ties to Lisbon.

Viktor Gyokeres is reportedly willing to give up a significant amount of…

Everton Honors New Beginnings with 2025/26 Home Kit

Everton have unveiled their 2025/26 home kit, marking a significant moment in…