Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho has made clear that Trent Alexander-Arnold is not being considered a long-term midfield option, despite starting the UEFA Champions League victory over Inter Milan in the centre of the pitch.
The England international was selected in midfield as Real Madrid began their European campaign with a 2-1 win over Inter Milan. Eduardo Camavinga was suspended, creating an opportunity for Alexander-Arnold to feature in a different position.
However, Mourinho insisted that the former Liverpool player’s performance in midfield should not be interpreted as a change to his broader plans. While Alexander-Arnold has previously played in the position for both England and Liverpool, the Real Madrid manager does not regard him as a midfielder.
"He's played midfield with England and Liverpool, but he's not a midfielder. He played very well against Inter.
"He interpreted what he needed to really well, tactically. Both him and Valverde worked very well at this level."
Alexander-Arnold’s start against Inter was a notable opportunity amid a difficult beginning to his Real Madrid career. The defender endured an inconsistent first season in Spain, with a series of injury problems affecting his progress.
He has also struggled to establish himself in Mourinho’s preferred starting XI during the opening weeks of the 2026/27 campaign. Alexander-Arnold has started only one of Real Madrid’s first three LaLiga matches this season.
Summer signing Denzel Dumfries has instead been Mourinho’s first-choice option at right-back. That preference has left Alexander-Arnold on the substitutes’ bench for much of the campaign so far.
The match against Inter offered a possible alternative route into the team, with Alexander-Arnold moved into midfield rather than competing directly with Dumfries at right-back. He produced a performance Mourinho considered tactically effective, working alongside Valverde as Real Madrid secured victory.
Mourinho’s comments nevertheless suggest that the experiment was shaped by the circumstances of the match rather than a permanent positional switch. Alexander-Arnold can operate in midfield when required, but the manager’s assessment is that his principal role does not lie there.
For now, Dumfries remains ahead of him at right-back, while Alexander-Arnold’s limited league involvement means he is still waiting for a regular place in the Real Madrid side. The win over Inter demonstrated that he can contribute from midfield, but it did not appear to alter his manager’s view of where he belongs on the pitch.