In Elite Football, one truth remains: only one starter can rise the field. Or, to make it more subtle – between two players fighting for a regular starting berth, one should play less. That is the silent but intense battle that unfolds in Real Madrid between Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dani Carvajal. There is only room for one right back if it matters the most.
For Xabi Alonso and his technical team, the short -term solution is due to rotation, but inevitably one player will eventually play more. In other words: people will be chosen when the campaign will start his critical phase in March-April. That is usually the best indicator to see who is first. And that will be the true time to evaluate this specific situation.
From now on nobody in the club is willing to bet on who will log more minutes this season. Trent can have the lead in the short term – its shape and flair cannot be denied – but Carvajal is a legend in Madrid. “He is a beast. It has always been, will always be,” said insiders in May. And that sentiment has not changed.
Carvajal back after 300 days offside
Exactly 300 days ago, Carvajal rose one of the most brutal injuries of his career – a moment when the Bernabéu froze in bewildered silence. October 5, 2024, deep in the stopping time against Villarreal. Real Madrid feared a 2-0 lead. The game was almost over. And then … disaster struck.
A routine clearance became catastrophic. A collision with Yéremy Pino, an uncomfortable turn of the leg and then – those unmistakable sounds. The crack. The scream. And above all the silence that followed. In a stadium, the nicknamed 'The Madhouse' got the atmosphere ice cold.
Carvajal had torn the ACL in his right knee, along with the lateral collateral ligament and the popliteal tendon – a devastating combination. Surgery was inevitable and the road to recovery would be long and difficult. Doctors estimate 8 to 10 months on the sidelines. For a player who is known for his grit and ruthless energy, it was a crushing blow.
But the work on the form, carvajal did not fade. He came back to the recent club World Cup. During Real Madrid's Summer Tour through the US, with signs of the Warrior spirit who has defined his career. And now – he is back.
Take on slowly
What Dani is going through is not only physical recovery – it is a competitive rebuilding. Of course, recorded in the team is one thing, but starting for Real Madrid? That is a very different level. During the club World Cup, his presence was more symbolic – only 20 minutes in a crooked victory over PSG. But now the story is changing.
He goes into force. In Real Madrid, the prevailing belief that Trent Alexander-Arnold will start the season as the first choice immediately back. Not because the club doubts Dani Carvajal, but because timing matters. After such a serious injury, the body does not heal alone – it has to learn how to compete again. And that takes months.
At the moment he could be 70%, so the wrist is quite decided. But as soon as Carvajal touches 100%, the landscape could shift. His experience, defensive reliability and leadership in the dressing room are not easily replaced. That is when the debate becomes tactical, emotional and strategic.
Two is a crowd
Before his injury, Carvajal played at a level that few defenders ever reached. He finished 4th in the Ballon d'Or or voted with 550 points, for both Haaland and Mbappé. It was the season of his iconic header at Wembley. During 3,351 minutes he scored 6 goals and gave 5 assists, on average a direct target contribution every 305 minutes.
But the competition with which he is now confronted is fierce. For Perspectief, Trent Alexander-Arnold contributed to a goal every 187 minutes that same season.
Carvajal is a stronger defender: better positioning, more solid in one-on-one duels, and surprisingly just as sharp in one-on-one attacking situations.
Trent, on the other hand, brings the touch of a midfielder to the right flank. The coaching staff likes how he drives to central areas and helps to build up games.
Under the Xabi Alonso system, full-backs must have a bit of a midfielder. Trent fits more naturally than Carvajal.
The words of the captain: “Competition makes us better”
“Fear? There will be competition, but we will never speak about fear; we are teammates. The competition reinforces both of us. I am not worried. It will put our best forward, and that is good for the team,” Carvajal said.
Speaking like a real captain. The same man who, 300 days ago, started with a debilitating recovery. Now he is back. And in a few months, when he is 100%, the real fight starts. A calm war, but one burning red -hot. Because two is a crowd – when only one can start immediately.