Former Liverpool and Real Madrid star Steve McManaman said in an interview that he speaks to Trent Alexander-Arnold often and he knows what his biggest issue at his new club is
Trent Alexander Arnold is still looking to establish himself as a first team regular at Real Madrid(Image: Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images)
A former Liverpool and Real Madrid star revealed that he speaks with Trent Alexander-Arnold often as he continues to navigate life in Spain.
Alexander-Arnold is hoping to improve on what was a disappointing first season with Real Madrid after leaving Liverpool in June 2025. The former Reds right back struggled with injury and was unable to establish himself as a first-team regular amid what was a turbulent and ultimately trophyless season for Los Blancos.
Now playing under Jose Mourinho, Alexander-Arnold has a new lease on life, but increased competition for a starting spot after the club signed Dutch national team right back Denzel Dumfries during the summer transfer window.
Former Liverpool and Real Madrid winger Steve McManaman revealed in a recent interview that he speaks with Alexander-Arnold often and is confident he is “doing well” and “settled in.”
“He’s fine. I talk to him and he’s doing well. He’s settled in well. The problem was that he had a lot of injuries last year. That was the issue. He had physical problems, and the team wasn’t at its best either. I think he should be fine this year,” McManaman told Spanish outlet Sport.
“He played the other day and did very well. I don’t have to give Trent any advice. I talk to him. He knows what he has to do. He knows he has to learn the language, settle in, and enjoy his life in Madrid. And he’s doing that. He has good friends there. I don’t think he’ll have any problems.”
Steve McManaman said he speaks with Alexander-Arnold often(Image: Photo by Richard Sellers/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images)
McManaman perhaps knows better than anyone what Alexander-Arnold is going through.
After breaking into the Liverpool first team as a teenager in the 1990s, McManaman established himself as a regular starter who was vital to the club’s success, including an FA Cup and League Cup, in his nine seasons on Merseyside.
In 1999, he secured a high-profile transfer to Real Madrid, where he won eight trophies, including two Champions League titles, in four seasons at the club.
The 54-year-old believes that Alexander-Arnold’s success in Spain is not down to a secret formula, rather it is simply about staying healthy, something he was unable to do during the 2025-26 season.
Although Trent was able to enjoy a full preseason with Mourinho after being left out of England’s 2026 World Cup squad, he has not been the new manager’s first choice option to start the campaign.
Alexander-Arnold has started just one of Real Madrid’s four La Liga matches so far, with Dumfries starting the other three.
In his one start, a 4-0 win against Malaga, Alexander-Arnold provided a pin-point cross to Kylian Mbappe for the third goal of the match.
With the Champions League league phase beginning this week, all eyes will be on Real Madrid and whether or not Alexander-Arnold is part of Mourinho’s plans as the club vies for its record 16th title in the competition.