Carvajal has not left the throne, Trent is forced to overthrow

Dani Carvajal is back from injury.

The 2025/26 season sees a new chapter as Trent Alexander-Arnold - England star and Liverpool icon - officially joins the Spanish Royal team. But what awaits him is not just the halo, but a solid wall named Carvajal - an icon that cannot be easily replaced.

A seemingly open position that is always closed

Real Madrid have often brought in big-name right-backs to add depth to their squad or simply prepare for the future after Carvajal. Danilo, Odriozola, and even Lucas Vazquez have been tried out - but none have really taken the No. 1 spot. Some have even left early when they realized they could not dislodge the "irreplaceable" player.

Carvajal has just completed a season interrupted but meaningfully, returning to action against PSG at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. The upcoming break is about fitness, but for Carvajal, it is also about rekindling the desire to defend his position, once again.

Meanwhile, with his younger age and rich experience at the top level, Trent Alexander-Arnold is a long-term contract for Real Madrid. His technique, tactical vision and ability to create breakthroughs can open up a new color in the playing style.

No one doubts Trent's talent. But the question isn't whether the former Liverpool man is good or not - it's how good he is compared to Carvajal in the Real Madrid ecosystem.

What makes Carvajal special is not just his technical skills. He is someone who understands the club's DNA, has been part of great victories, is a native player who grew up in Castilla, and most importantly - someone who is always there in the decisive moments.

Dani Carvajal is not ready to back down.

Since returning from Bayer Leverkusen in 2013, Carvajal has had his fair share of challenges. He shared the position with Arbeloa under Ancelotti, then faced off against Danilo - a high-profile signing who was brought in with great expectations. Under Zidane, he was an irreplaceable pillar in a glorious period that saw three consecutive Champions League titles.

Injuries forced Carvajal to leave the pitch in tears in Milan 2016, and again in the final in Kyiv 2018. But no matter what, Carvajal always returned. Even when Odriozola arrived, Lucas Vazquez was tested, or when Zidane was forced to patch things up with Nacho - Real's No. 2 defender was still a stable support whenever his physical condition allowed.

Even after a long injury spell during the pandemic, Carvajal changed his lifestyle to the point that "eating broccoli became a philosophy of life". Since then, muscle injuries have seemingly disappeared from his career. It's not just professionalism - it's an extraordinary effort to maintain a position that seemed past its peak.

Does Trent have enough "Madrid courage"?

Joining Real Madrid is a different challenge, not just for Trent but for any player. There is no shortage of stars who have shone at other clubs but were “swallowed up” by pressure and expectation.

Trent has many qualities that have pundits optimistic: creativity from the back, lethal passes, and a modern style of play suited to possession football. However, to win the trust of the Bernabéu, technique alone is not enough.

Trent faces a challenge to take his place from Carvajal.

Carvajal is not the flashy right-back Trent is, but he is the one you want in big games - someone who is always ready to tackle, who runs tirelessly and who fears no opponent. He is the embodiment of Real Madrid in difficult moments: tenacious, unpretentious but effective.

If Trent is to truly take over, he must overcome the pressure that only those who have lived here can understand. And first of all, the former Liverpool man must be willing to wait because Carvajal is not ready to step aside.

Carvajal is preparing for his final season at the top level with his sights set on the 2026 World Cup - a major tournament he has never fully enjoyed due to injury. For Trent, this season is the start of a new journey in a challenging environment.

The confrontation between two talented defenders is not just a battle of positions. It is a race between experience and expectation, between the one who has established himself in the Real shirt and the one who has the mission to create a new chapter. But as history has shown, overcoming Carvajal is never easy. And for Trent, this may be the first "mission impossible" at the Bernabéu.

Source: https://znews.vn/carvajal-chua-roi-ngai-trent-buoc-phai-lat-do-post1569024.html