Xabi Alonso may be forced to change Real Madrid formation to get Trent Alexander-Arnold in the team
Xabi Alonso won’t have things easy when he arrives at Real Madrid, particularly when it comes to Trent Alexander-Arnold. Although the pair of Liverpool greats are yet to announce their arrival at the Bernabeu, both have said they’re leaving their current sides. Alonso has already announced his Leverkusen departureAFP Alexander-Arnold will be following him to MadridGetty Alonso departs Bayer Leverkusen as their greatest-ever manager, having led them to their first ever Bundesliga title and second DFB Pokal in his first full season as a manager. Next up will be former team Madrid, where he already knows one recruit, Alexander-Arnold, who arrives as a Premier League winner at Liverpool with a reputation as one of Europe’s best playmakers. Despite his incredible statistics as an assist-maker, Alexander-Arnold has long had his defensive capabilities questioned, but that’s nothing new for Alonso’s full-backs. At Leverkusen his wing-back duo of Alejandro Grimaldo and Jeremie Frimpong often provided the main attacking output in a 3-4-3 or 3-5-2 formation and did little if any defending. talkSPORT’s European expert Andy Brassell can see the same for Alonso in Madrid, changing things up at a club and country where a back four is certainly traditional. “They’re bringing in a very different right-back in Trent Alexander-Arnold who’s very different from Dani Carvajal,” he explained. “They’ve got enough good midfield players that you have to wonder where else he would play, does Alonso move to three at the back?” Should he make the switch, Brassell could also see Alonso go shopping at his old side. He continued: “Two of the key players for him have been Grimaldo and Frimpong at wing-back. “If there was one player I think you’re going to have a little pop for who isn’t Florian Wirtz, I would say Grimaldo is the one. A new formation for Real could be best for Alexander Arnold “Someone who’s so creative, who can do the left wing-back, can play further in midfield, can stretch the game so [Kylian] Mbappe and Vinicius can play a little more infield. “Will we see that Vinicius – Mbappe front two next season? That wouldn’t be a massive surprise.” However, to make such a change, Madrid would need three centre-backs when they’ve barely even had one for much of the current season. Antonio Rudiger, Eder Militao and David Alaba have all faced serious injuries, leaving Los Blancos increasingly short. In fact, last time out against Barcelona in a 4-3 defeat midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni partnered academy graduate Raul Asencio, who no one had even heard of before this season. Their problems at centre back were flagged to Brassell who said: “They haven’t [got many] at the moment but they will do, that’s really where they need to strengthen. “There are holes in the squad and it’s clear Alonso is going to need help rebuilding, because there’s more rebuilding than people would like to believe.” talkSPORT understands that Alonso is keen on Bournemouth and Spain centre back Dean Huijsen to fill one of those spots. The 20-year-old has become one of Europe’s most sought after defenders this season. Madrid will face competition from Chelsea and Liverpool for a player who has a £50million release clause. But he would ease the stress of a tactical change in the Spanish capital if he does.
Xabi Alonso won’t have things easy when he arrives at Real Madrid, particularly when it comes to Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Although the pair of Liverpool greats are yet to announce their arrival at the Bernabeu, both have said they’re leaving their current sides.
Alonso departs Bayer Leverkusen as their greatest-ever manager, having led them to their first ever Bundesliga title and second DFB Pokal in his first full season as a manager.
Next up will be former team Madrid, where he already knows one recruit, Alexander-Arnold, who arrives as a Premier League winner at Liverpool with a reputation as one of Europe’s best playmakers.
Despite his incredible statistics as an assist-maker, Alexander-Arnold has long had his defensive capabilities questioned, but that’s nothing new for Alonso’s full-backs.
At Leverkusen his wing-back duo of Alejandro Grimaldo and Jeremie Frimpong often provided the main attacking output in a 3-4-3 or 3-5-2 formation and did little if any defending.
talkSPORT’s European expert Andy Brassell can see the same for Alonso in Madrid, changing things up at a club and country where a back four is certainly traditional.
“They’re bringing in a very different right-back in Trent Alexander-Arnold who’s very different from Dani Carvajal,” he explained.
“They’ve got enough good midfield players that you have to wonder where else he would play, does Alonso move to three at the back?”
Should he make the switch, Brassell could also see Alonso go shopping at his old side.
He continued: “Two of the key players for him have been Grimaldo and Frimpong at wing-back.
“If there was one player I think you’re going to have a little pop for who isn’t Florian Wirtz, I would say Grimaldo is the one.
“Someone who’s so creative, who can do the left wing-back, can play further in midfield, can stretch the game so [Kylian] Mbappe and Vinicius can play a little more infield.
“Will we see that Vinicius – Mbappe front two next season? That wouldn’t be a massive surprise.”
However, to make such a change, Madrid would need three centre-backs when they’ve barely even had one for much of the current season.
Antonio Rudiger, Eder Militao and David Alaba have all faced serious injuries, leaving Los Blancos increasingly short.
In fact, last time out against Barcelona in a 4-3 defeat midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni partnered academy graduate Raul Asencio, who no one had even heard of before this season.
Their problems at centre back were flagged to Brassell who said: “They haven’t [got many] at the moment but they will do, that’s really where they need to strengthen.
“There are holes in the squad and it’s clear Alonso is going to need help rebuilding, because there’s more rebuilding than people would like to believe.”
talkSPORT understands that Alonso is keen on Bournemouth and Spain centre back Dean Huijsen to fill one of those spots.
The 20-year-old has become one of Europe’s most sought after defenders this season.
Madrid will face competition from Chelsea and Liverpool for a player who has a £50million release clause.
But he would ease the stress of a tactical change in the Spanish capital if he does.
