Alexander-Arnold is not a midfielder, says Real Madrid boss Mourinho

Syndicated reporting provided by Stats Perform and reviewed by the SoccerNews editorial team.

Jose Mourinho insisted Trent Alexander-Arnold is not a midfielder despite deploying him there in Real Madrid’s Champions League curtain-raiser against Inter. 

With Eduardo Camavinga, Arda Guler and Bernardo Silva all ruled out through suspension, Alexander-Arnold was picked to start alongside Federico Valverde in central midfield.

Madrid made the perfect start to their European campaign, winning 2-1 at Estadio Bernabeu thanks to goals from Kylian Mbappe and Valverde against the Serie A giants. 

Alexander-Arnold played his part in Mbappe’s 14th-minute opener, pressing former Liverpool team-mate Curtis Jones, whose loose pass sold Yann Bisseck short. 

During the match, only Brahim Diaz (four) created more chances than Alexander-Arnold’s two, while he also finished with a team-high total number of crosses (four). 

But his 83.3% passing accuracy was the the third-lowest of any outfield player for Madrid, with only Dean Huijsen (82.1%) and Ibrahima Konate (81.3%) registering lower. 

“He has played in midfield with England and Liverpool, but he is not a midfielder,” Mourinho said. “He has played very well. He interpreted what he needed to really well, tactically.

“Both him and Valverde have worked very well at this level.”

— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadriden) September 8, 2026

Alexander-Arnold has failed to nail down a starting spot at Madrid since arriving at the Spanish capital from Liverpool last year. 

Of his 39 appearances in all competitions for Madrid, 29 have been from the start, while he has managed to register just seven assists in that time. 

Dani Carvajal’s exit at the end of last season was expected to give Alexander-Arnold more game time, only for Madrid to sign Denzel Dumfries from Inter. 

The Netherlands international has started all four of Los Blancos’ matches in all competitions.

“It’s hard for Trent,” Mourinho added. “I appreciate the effort, but with his characteristics, the specificity needed to play full-back or central midfield, it’s completely different physically.

“He had some losses of the ball, because it’s not the same as playing with the whole field in front of you, and playing with half the field behind you.

“He’s played there a few times with Liverpool and the national team, but, it’s completely different. He didn’t have more to give.”

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