DAILY MAIL 🔵 Trent Alexander-Arnold torn apart by Spanish press: Ex-Liverpool star branded ‘CLUELESS’ and a ‘rabbit in the headlights’ amid slow start to Real Madrid career – while his influence is ‘non-existent’

Trent Alexander-Arnold has faced the wrath of the Spanish football press, being branded ‘clueless’. 

The former Liverpool right-back, who left his boyhood club with ambitions of winning a Ballon d’Or in Spain, has made an unconvincing start at Real Madrid. 

And Marca were merciless in their assessment of Alexander-Arnold following the drab 1-1 draw against Girona at the weekend. 

Alfredo Relano is one of the most famous football writers in Spain and savaged the 27-year-old. 

He wrote: ‘Now that Trent is here, he seems like a clueless and insubstantial player, with the expression of a rabbit in the headlights.

‘His quality at set pieces is masked by his right foot, but in open play he is non-existent.’

Alexander-Arnold almost gave a goal away with a poor pass in the first half against Girona and his crossing was uncharacteristically wayward. 

It had seemed as though the Englishman was beginning to win people around after starting games against Elche and Olympiacos.

AS wrote ‘that feeling in his foot that allows him to create chances for his teammates’ added he is ‘becoming the team’s set-piece specialist under Xabi Alonso’.

But the situation can quickly turn at Real and as it stands, with the team struggling to produce their best, Alexander-Arnold is receiving criticism. 

He suffered the ignominy of being booed by his former fans at Anfield after an unhappy homecoming at a Champions League defeat by the Reds last month. 

The manner of his departure still rankles with Liverpool supporters after he wound down his contract, seeing the club only glean £10million for one of their most important players, who had previously insisted he wanted to spend the rest of his career on Merseyside and one day be captain. 

But he decided to leave for Real where he has not yet made an impact. 

The creative right-back is yet to deliver a goal or assist for his new team in LaLiga or the Champions League.  

He has only played 90 minutes twice in the Spanish top flight and was left on the bench for the Clasico win over Barcelona.

He is battling Dani Carvajal and Federico Valverde for a starting role at the back having been hampered by injury issues at the start of the season. 

Alonso is standing by Alexander-Arnold and before the Girona draw said: ‘It’s his first year, and this adjustment period is normal. He’s also demanding of himself, and we have to support him through this significant change.’

Relano was not just damning of Alexander-Arnold, also eviscerating the team in general by saying: ‘Months go by, and the team is not complete. It relies on Mbappé and Courtois, who are crucial in dramatic moments.’

Alexander-Arnold is also finding himself trying to bed in while there is dressing room unrest at Real. 

As per reports in Spain, high-profile members of the squad are split into camps of who supports Alonso, and who would prefer to see him leave the Bernabeu. 

Alonso is believed to have a more hands-on approach than successful Madrid man-managers like Carlo Ancelotti and Zinedine Zidane, with strict rules to weed out ‘bad habits’ and the assertion that players have to fight for their place in the first XI every time they train. 

As per Mundo Deportivo, those have not taken to the arrival of Alonso in the Spanish capital include Vinicius Jr, Fede Valverde, Brahim Diaz, Rodrygo, Endrick, and Ferland Mendy. 

But Vinicius Jr is remains Alonso’s most notable detractor, with the Brazil international letting his feelings be known as he was substituted during El Clasico last month. 

The forward angrily shouted ‘I’m going to leave this team’ as he stormed off the pitch without acknowledging his manager, and he acted similarly when he offered a public apology by failing to name Alonso in the social media message. 

It emerged that Vinicius Jr is not considering extending his current contract – which runs until the summer of 2027 – under current circumstances. 

Real are currently four points behind Barcelona in LaLiga ahead of their game in hand away at Athletic Bilbao on Wednesday. 

It will be fascinating to see whether Alonso keeps the faith with Alexander-Arnold or opts for Valverde, with Carvahal out of action with a knee injury until next year.