It was meant to be the start of a fresh chapter, but it ended up being a testing few months for Trent Alexander-Arnold.
The Liverpool academy graduate was deeply upset by how his exit from the club played out, with fans booing him at Anfield in a relationship that ended like a messy high-school break-up, before he started life at Real Madrid while struggling for fitness.
An injury suffered against Paris Saint-Germain in one of his final appearances for the English champions meant he was somewhat short of full sharpness when he made his Los Blancos debut in the Club World Cup. Suddenly, he was playing catch-up.
The first six months with Real were pockmarked by injuries – first it was the groin, then a couple of hamstring problems, then a quad issue – and maybe rushing back too soon. His England prospects took a hit around this time as he was out of sight, out of mind for Thomas Tuchel.
Alexander-Arnold was desperate to impress then-boss Xabi Alonso, who was himself under pressure. Madrid are the biggest club in the world and the Press in the Spanish capital scrutinise every cough and splutter.
But after a false start, Alexander-Arnold is now living up to his sky-high reputation and they are starting to adore him over there. The feeling is mutual – he is enjoying life in La Liga and Alexander-Arnold feels completely settled in his new surrounds.
Trent Alexander-Arnold had a difficult start to life at Real Madrid – but the former Liverpool man is starting to live up to his sky-high reputation
The Englishman feels completely settled in his new surrounds, and is a close friend to several of his Real team-mates, including Vinicius Junior (pictured)
In the gym and off the pitch, the 27-year-old went above and beyond to reach peak physique again after a troubling period where he seemed to pull up more in those few months than he had done in the previous few years.
Language-wise, he is getting better and better. He attends regular lessons with private tutor Sara Duque, who speaks seven different languages and has helped other professional football players and coaches such as Julian Alvarez, Richarlison and Vinicius Junior.
He is not quite at the level where he could, say, write a book in Spanish. But he can understand tactical information and join in with his team-mates’ banter.
One of those team-mates, of course, is his good pal Jude Bellingham. The pair have been on holiday together in the past and he remains Alexander-Arnold’s closest confidant in Spain, alongside Dean Huijsen, Vinicius and Kylian Mbappe, all friends.
At Anfield, meanwhile, it is fair to say Alexander-Arnold’s absence has been keenly felt – his unorthodox passing, creativity and ingenuity in particular have been sorely missed.
Reds supporters might not want to admit that, but it is true. The full back, who now wears just ‘Trent’ on the back of his No 12 shirt, might not end up an Anfield great due to his acrimonious exit but no one there could doubt his natural ability.
Alexander-Arnold has gone above and beyond in the gym and on the training ground in his bid to return to full fitness
The locals in Madrid are starting to see Alexander-Arnold’s qualities on the ball, while he is forming a strong relationship with star midfielder Federico Valverde
The locals at the Santiago Bernabeu are starting to see it for themselves, too. Experts point to a run and pass made to Vinicius in the Madrid derby a fortnight ago as one of his best moments yet.
Alexander-Arnold also played well in the two-legged win over Manchester City but his biggest test in a Real shirt will come this week, with Bayern Munich in town for the first leg of the teams’ Champions League quarter-final.
Vincent Kompany’s men, spearheaded by Harry Kane, are being talked up as the strongest Bayern team since Pep Guardiola was in Germany. Michael Olise, once of Crystal Palace, has flourished into one of the best players in Europe.
There are still some doubters who say Alexander-Arnold’s defending is not good enough but he has taken strides in that regard this season. Learning from veteran right back Dani Carvajal has undoubtedly helped.
Real boss Alvaro Arbeloa and the club have put a lot of trust and faith in him, too, though it has not all been plain-sailing. Last month he was dropped from the team after turning up late for training.
But he has slowly forced himself ahead of Carvajal in the pecking order and the chemistry with majestic midfielder Federico Valverde down the right flank is growing by the game.
So what of England and the World Cup? Can Tuchel really overlook a supremely gifted footballer who is now playing week in, week out for a club with the stature of Madrid, and has every chance of lifting the Champions League this season?
The defender impressed in Real’s Champions League victory over Manchester City, and faces his toughest test yet against Bayern Munich this week
It feels mad that it is unlikely Alexander-Arnold will make the World Cup this summer. He and Thomas Tuchel have had talks but his omission from last week’s expanded squad was telling
It seems utterly bonkers that it is unlikely Alexander-Arnold will make the plane to North America. He and Tuchel have had conversations but his omission from the expanded Three Lions squad last week was telling.
It will disappoint Alexander-Arnold but not faze him, just like the several setbacks he had on and off the pitch when making the move from Merseyside to Madrid.
For now, his attention is firmly set on winning European Cup No 16 for the Spanish giants.
As they would say over there, vamos.
