Real Madrid's closed-door friendly against Leganes gave the first clear look at how Trent Alexander-Arnold fits under José Mourinho. He played very high up the pitch and stood out alongside Arda Güler, then showed exactly why the excitement around him is still paired with a defensive question mark.

The attacking side of the fit

Alexander-Arnold's best moment came when his pass over the top set up Gonzalo García for Real Madrid's second goal. It was the kind of delivery Madrid bought into, a quick, ambitious ball that reached the space behind Leganes' back line before the defence could recover.

The same attacking shape also kept him involved around the box. His effort later led to Franco Mastantuono converting a rebound, which backed up the idea that he is not just there to circulate possession. Real Madrid looked comfortable using him as a high outlet, not a tucked-in full-back waiting for the game to come to him.

The defensive warning signs

The other side of the evening arrived when Naim García beat Andriy Lunin after stepping over Alexander-Arnold and shooting from the edge of the box. It was a clean reminder that, even in a preseason setting, he can still be isolated and targeted on his side.

That is the bit Mourinho will keep watching. Alexander-Arnold has 30 appearances in his injury-hit debut season, so this was not just a harmless training-ground wobble. The chance creation is obvious enough. The question is whether the structure around him can protect him when Madrid lose the ball and have to turn back toward their own goal.

Amanda Langell of SI FC put it bluntly: "The fullback both impressed and disappointed against Leganés." She also noted that Mourinho was not the only new face who had a front row seat to Alexander-Arnold's strengths and weaknesses.

The friendly was only a first look, but it was a useful one. Real Madrid saw the passing range that can open games, and they also saw the recovery work that still needs to hold up before the season gets moving for real.

Written by Daniel Hartley with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 3 outlets. How we work →