ShareDenzel Dumfries’ move to Real Madrid raises fresh questions about Trent Alexander-Arnold’s role at the Santiago Bernabéu.By Graham RuthvenBy the start of next season, Real Madrid will be a José Mourinho team. That’s the plan, anyway. The Spanish giants have already made a number of signings clearly with the Portuguese’s playing style and general approach in mind. Denzel Dumfries is one such signing.Signed for a reported €20m from Inter Milan, Dumfries will give Real Madrid greater thrust on the wing. Mourinho’s best teams have always had proactive, front foot full backs and the Netherlands international certainly fits the bill. Real Madrid, however, already have an elite-level right back. One they signed only 12 months ago.Trent Alexander-Arnold is a very different sort of right back to Dumfries. While Dumfries’ game is all about direct running and bursting to the byline, Alexander-Arnold is a natural creator on the ball. He is a cultured crosser and someone who can dictate possession from his position on the right side. Alexander-Arnold is a natural possession hub.Dumfries vs. Alexander-Arnold stats comparison (Serie A vs. LaLiga only)If Mourinho wants Dumfries as his starting player on the right wing, where does that leave Alexander-Arnold? How will the Englishman fit into the lineup if Real Madrid’s latest addition is the favoured option at right back? Does Dumfries’ transfer signal that Alexander-Arnold will be a peripheral figure for Los Blancos next season?Alexander-Arnold’s first season in Spain was a challenging one. The 27-year-old started just 14 league matches as injuries disrupted his campaign, registering four assists in 1,163 minutes. There were glimpses of Alexander-Arnold’s ability, but he failed to find consistent form for his new team.There were also glimpses of Alexander-Arnold’s weaknesses. His defensive vulnerabilities have been a talking point for a long time and were frequently exposed in a Real Madrid team that lacked balance last season. Mourinho will be aware of those frailties and one wonders if Dumfries’ signing hints at Alexander-Arnold being used in a different role.Alexander-Arnold player traitsXabi Alonso experimented with Alexander-Arnold in central midfield. The 27-year-old’s natural ability on the ball lends itself to the idea that he could be useful in the middle of the pitch where he can control possession. Sir Gareth Southgate also experimented with Alexander-Arnold in a similar way as England manager, albeit with scant success. Mourinho could revisit this idea. Real Madrid need a new midfield pace-setter and have needed one since the retirement of Toni Kroos two years ago. It’s possible they could move for a player of this profile before the summer transfer window closes. In the meantime, Alexander-Arnold might be a useful stopgap. A stopgap because Alexander-Arnold doesn’t have the natural rhythm of a true deep-lying pace-setter. He has the passing range to play in that position, but he doesn’t possess the nimble possession play of someone like Pedri or Vitinha. This is where Alexander-Arnold still has to develop his game as a central midfielder.Dumfries player traitsIt’s possible Mourinho could use Dumfries as an out-and-out winger with Alexander-Arnold behind the Dutchman as a right back with the freedom to invert into the centre of the pitch. Another tactical ploy could see Alexander-Arnold play as a right-sided centre back in a back three with Dumfries as a wing back. That is, after all, where the Dutchman thrived for Inter.What’s clear, though, is that Alexander-Arnold has some work ahead of him to convince Mourinho that he belongs in the first team otherwise he will find himself on the outside. Thomas Tuchel made the decision to omit the 27-year-old from his England squad for the 2026 World Cup and the Three Lions are doing just fine. The precedent has already been set.For this reason, the 2026/27 season could be the most important of Alexander-Arnold’s career. At Liverpool, he played in a side that was geared to his strengths. Jürgen Klopp built the Reds around Alexander-Arnold who was their primary creative force down the right side. At Real Madrid, he is having to prove himself all over again.Mourinho has been hired to mould Los Blancos in his own image. Real Madrid are expected to be tougher next season. If Mourinho has his way, they will be more compact and more difficult to play against. Alexander-Arnold’s playing style doesn’t exactly seem to be a good fit for this approach.Alexander-Arnold’s talent could keep him in Real Madrid’s first team. However, the landscape has clearly shifted since he made the decision to join the Spanish giants a year ago. Back then, Alonso was preparing to modernise Real Madrid’s playing style. Now, Mourinho is in charge and everything has changed.(Cover image from IMAGO)You can follow Real Madrid game on FotMob – with in-depth stat coverage, including xG, shot maps, and player ratings. Download the free app here.Add FotMob as a preferred news source on Google by clicking – here.Denzel Dumfries’ move to Real Madrid raises fresh questions about Trent Alexander-Arnold’s role at the Santiago Bernabéu.By Graham RuthvenBy the start of next season, Real Madrid will be a José Mourinho team. That’s the plan, anyway. The Spanish giants have already made a number of signings clearly with the Portuguese’s playing style and general approach in mind. Denzel Dumfries is one such signing.Signed for a reported €20m from Inter Milan, Dumfries will give Real Madrid greater thrust on the wing. Mourinho’s best teams have always had proactive, front foot full backs and the Netherlands international certainly fits the bill. Real Madrid, however, already have an elite-level right back. One they signed only 12 months ago.Trent Alexander-Arnold is a very different sort of right back to Dumfries. While Dumfries’ game is all about direct running and bursting to the byline, Alexander-Arnold is a natural creator on the ball. He is a cultured crosser and someone who can dictate possession from his position on the right side. Alexander-Arnold is a natural possession hub.Dumfries vs. Alexander-Arnold stats comparison (Serie A vs. LaLiga only)If Mourinho wants Dumfries as his starting player on the right wing, where does that leave Alexander-Arnold? How will the Englishman fit into the lineup if Real Madrid’s latest addition is the favoured option at right back? Does Dumfries’ transfer signal that Alexander-Arnold will be a peripheral figure for Los Blancos next season?Alexander-Arnold’s first season in Spain was a challenging one. The 27-year-old started just 14 league matches as injuries disrupted his campaign, registering four assists in 1,163 minutes. There were glimpses of Alexander-Arnold’s ability, but he failed to find consistent form for his new team.There were also glimpses of Alexander-Arnold’s weaknesses. His defensive vulnerabilities have been a talking point for a long time and were frequently exposed in a Real Madrid team that lacked balance last season. Mourinho will be aware of those frailties and one wonders if Dumfries’ signing hints at Alexander-Arnold being used in a different role.Alexander-Arnold player traitsXabi Alonso experimented with Alexander-Arnold in central midfield. The 27-year-old’s natural ability on the ball lends itself to the idea that he could be useful in the middle of the pitch where he can control possession. Sir Gareth Southgate also experimented with Alexander-Arnold in a similar way as England manager, albeit with scant success. Mourinho could revisit this idea. Real Madrid need a new midfield pace-setter and have needed one since the retirement of Toni Kroos two years ago. It’s possible they could move for a player of this profile before the summer transfer window closes. In the meantime, Alexander-Arnold might be a useful stopgap. A stopgap because Alexander-Arnold doesn’t have the natural rhythm of a true deep-lying pace-setter. He has the passing range to play in that position, but he doesn’t possess the nimble possession play of someone like Pedri or Vitinha. This is where Alexander-Arnold still has to develop his game as a central midfielder.Dumfries player traitsIt’s possible Mourinho could use Dumfries as an out-and-out winger with Alexander-Arnold behind the Dutchman as a right back with the freedom to invert into the centre of the pitch. Another tactical ploy could see Alexander-Arnold play as a right-sided centre back in a back three with Dumfries as a wing back. That is, after all, where the Dutchman thrived for Inter.What’s clear, though, is that Alexander-Arnold has some work ahead of him to convince Mourinho that he belongs in the first team otherwise he will find himself on the outside. Thomas Tuchel made the decision to omit the 27-year-old from his England squad for the 2026 World Cup and the Three Lions are doing just fine. The precedent has already been set.For this reason, the 2026/27 season could be the most important of Alexander-Arnold’s career. At Liverpool, he played in a side that was geared to his strengths. Jürgen Klopp built the Reds around Alexander-Arnold who was their primary creative force down the right side. At Real Madrid, he is having to prove himself all over again.Mourinho has been hired to mould Los Blancos in his own image. Real Madrid are expected to be tougher next season. If Mourinho has his way, they will be more compact and more difficult to play against. Alexander-Arnold’s playing style doesn’t exactly seem to be a good fit for this approach.Alexander-Arnold’s talent could keep him in Real Madrid’s first team. However, the landscape has clearly shifted since he made the decision to join the Spanish giants a year ago. Back then, Alonso was preparing to modernise Real Madrid’s playing style. Now, Mourinho is in charge and everything has changed.(Cover image from IMAGO)You can follow Real Madrid game on FotMob – with in-depth stat coverage, including xG, shot maps, and player ratings. Download the free app here.Add FotMob as a preferred news source on Google by clicking – here.