Trent Alexander-Arnold's arrival at Real Madrid was set to be one of the major moves of the summer. The English full-back came from Liverpool to strengthen the white defense and provide a quality boost on the right flank.
His signing was met with enthusiasm by the fans and with a certain level of expectation in the locker room. However, the player's first weeks in the Spanish capital are proving to be much more complicated than expected.
Beyond tactical or physical adaptation, the real obstacle lies on a human level. The language has become an insurmountable barrier that's causing him integration problems with his teammates.
He only communicates with the English players
Trent can barely communicate in Spanish, and that significantly limits his relationships in Valdebebas. In practice, his closest circle consists of Jude Bellingham and a few other players who are fluent in English. The connection between them is clear, but it's also raised some suspicion within the group, which perceives a distance with the new signing.
For the Spanish players, understanding is almost nonexistent. Except in very specific situations where there's a translator or gestures involved, dialogue flows with difficulty.
In a locker room like Real Madrid's, where coexistence is essential, this detail is not minor. The general feeling is that the Englishman still hasn't managed to connect with the group.
An unexpected challenge for Xabi Alonso
The coach is aware that a united locker room is as important as performance on the field. Xabi Alonso knows well what it means to arrive from England to a Spanish club and understands that adaptation takes time. Even so, he's concerned that Trent's integration is progressing more slowly than expected.
The Madrid locker room, made up largely of Spanish-speaking footballers, has tried to make things easier. However, the language barrier remains a wall that's hard to break down. Xabi has asked for patience and trusts that as the weeks go by, the player will gradually open up.
A signing under scrutiny
The demands at Real Madrid are at their highest, and every detail is analyzed closely. Alexander-Arnold's adaptation will be evaluated not only by his performance on the field but also by how he fits into the group. For now, there's no alarm, but there is some concern upon seeing that his arrival isn't as smooth as was desired.
Trent has more than enough quality to succeed at Bernabéu. The big question is whether he'll manage to break through that cultural barrier that's currently affecting his daily life as soon as possible.
Time will tell if the English full-back manages to adapt to an environment as demanding as Madrid's. Or if, on the contrary, the lack of connection with his teammates becomes an even harder burden to overcome.
For now, 68 min. (68 minutes) against Osasuna and 3 min. (3 minutes) against Oviedo. He started in the first match and was substituted by Carvajal in the second.
This is another problem for Trent, who must compete with the most charismatic footballer in the squad, the one with six Champions League titles. That carries a lot of weight.