Real Madrid are planning to use Trent Alexander-Arnold in midfield phases without moving him away from right-back. Jose Mourinho wants to explore that passing range, but the idea is not expected to become the team’s main tactical plan. It is being treated as a layer in the role, not a full positional switch.
Mourinho's role plan for Trent
The source behind the report says Trent is viewed as “a player who will be very important, with a highly versatile profile who can fulfil various roles from his position as a right-back”. That is where the experiment sits. Mourinho asked for another right-back after arriving, and the aim was to give Trent serious competition, not to replace him.
Denzel Dumfries has arrived in that battle for the right side. The competition should keep Trent anchored in the starting picture at full-back while giving Mourinho another option if he wants to move him inside for select phases.
Why the midfield phases make sense
The upside is obvious in Madrid’s attacking setup. Vinicius, Mbappe and Diomande are being described as the pace and movement ahead of Trent, which gives a passer like him plenty of targets if he steps into central lanes. Real Madrid finished the 2025 La Liga season on 86 points with a +42 goal difference, and they scored 21 goals in 8 Champions League matches in 2025.
Their recent league form also gives Mourinho some room to try it. Madrid have won four of their last five league matches, so the team has not needed to stand still while the staff look for ways to add another route into attack.
Trent has also started two of Real Madrid’s four pre-season friendlies, which suggests the staff are already testing how often he can influence the game from different positions. The more likely use case is hybrid rather than permanent, and that is probably the right call for a player whose main value still starts at right-back. Madrid do not need to choose one lane for him yet, and they have not been asked to.
Written by Daniel Hartley with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →
