It was a night of great tension at the Mestalla Stadium in Valencia during matchday 23 on the 8th. Cameras captured Real Madrid captain Dani Carvajal, visibly irritated, in a heated discussion with fitness coach Pintus for being benched for the fourth consecutive game. But while the heavyweights were arguing, coach Álvaro Arbeloa sent a young player onto the field who, until recently, was an illustrious unknown. David Jiménez has not always been a full-back. Born in Móstoles – the hometown of the legendary Iker Casillas – he started as a forward, idolizing Cristiano Ronaldo. However, at Valdebebas, they realized that his intelligence and speed were ideal for the right flank. Like Achraf Hakimi, Jiménez underwent a transformation from striker to full-back. At just 1.70m tall, which makes him vulnerable in aerial duels, he compensates for this disadvantage with an intensity and aggression that lead coaches to compare him to Carvajal when he was young. Making his debut as a starter in one of the most hostile stadiums in Spain was a training exercise for David Jiménez. The statistics speak for themselves: he completed 34 passes out of 35 (almost 100%). Interestingly, former coach Xabi Alonso did not include Jiménez in the squad for the Club World Cup last summer, preferring the younger Jesús Fortea, 18. However, David, through his hard work, forced the coaching staff to change their minds. When the situation tightened in the Cup against Talavera, it was he who saved the team's honor while the stars faltered. Jiménez's contract runs until 2027, and Real has yet to initiate negotiations for his renewal. However, Arbeloa's message is clear: although Carvajal and Trent Alexander-Arnold remain the first choices at right-back for the whites, David is breathing down their necks. No one in Madrid can now say that they do not have substitutes. The arrival of Trent Alexander-Arnold at Real Madrid was announced as the beginning of a new era, but no one could have predicted this scenario. While the Englishman was recovering from injury, the right-back position was secured by David Jiménez – and the former Liverpool star's reaction to this situation surprised everyone at Valdebebas. Spanish media are known for spicing up stories about the vanity of big stars, but the situation with Trent took an unexpected turn. Sources close to Real's training center claim that Alexander-Arnold was visibly surprised in the first training sessions after his return. Used to absolute dominance at Liverpool, the Englishman found a 21-year-old who not only matched him in speed but, according to Arbeloa's ideas, 'entered the midfield,' which is precisely Trent's trademark. While many expected displeasure, Trent showed a side that delighted the management. Instead of getting angry, he was filmed talking to David Jiménez after training, explaining to him the secrets of positioning in diagonal passes. Jiménez confessed to Real Madrid TV: 'Trent, Carva, and Fede are incredibly generous with me. I learn from them every day.' In England, controversy has already arisen. Media outlets on the island are questioning: Did Trent move to Real to be David Jiménez's backup? They fear that a lack of minutes in Madrid could jeopardize his status with Thomas Tuchel in the national team, especially since Tuchel is now looking for players fully fit for the World Cup. Arbeloa is not crazy, and these facts prove it. While Trent is world-class, David Jiménez currently offers three crucial things for the new Real: 1. Arbeloa's inverted system – David feels like a fish in water. The new Real coach demands that full-backs position themselves in midfield as additional midfielders during attacking build-up. Jiménez played as a 10 and winger in the youth categories, so he feels incredibly natural in central areas. Trent knows how to do this, but the young player does it faster and more disciplined in defensive transitions. 2. Brutal defensive intensity. While Trent is often criticized for being too passive, Jiménez… bites! His 1.70m gives him a low center of gravity that allows him to stick to the opposing winger. At Mestalla, he had three crucial ball recoveries at moments when Valencia was on the rise – these are minutes that earn the coach's trust. 3. 'Club son' vs. galáctico. Do not underestimate the power of emotions at the Bernabéu. The crowd loves it when a 'kid from La Fabrica' shows grit. Jiménez plays for the shirt, for every minute, while Trent is still adapting to the new life, language, and pressure of the club. David Jiménez brings that necessary hunger that sometimes lacks in already established stars.
Real Madrid Mestalla Stadium remains central to this story.
Real Madrid Mestalla Stadium remains central to this story.
Read more in La Liga news. and related tags: Real Madrid, Mestalla Stadium.