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Real Madrid’s plans at right-back could be heading in an unexpected direction next season, with new arrival Denzel Dumfries seemingly moving ahead of Trent Alexander-Arnold in Jose Mourinho’s current pecking order.

According to El Larguero, Dumfries has made a strong impression on Mourinho in the early phase of pre-season and is beginning to emerge as the manager’s preferred choice on the right side of defence.

The Dutch defender joined from Inter for €20 million, and at first his signing looked like one of the quieter pieces of business in Real Madrid’s transfer window. The general expectation was that he would offer competition and rotation for Trent, who had been viewed as the obvious first-choice right-back.

But the opening three pre-season matches have suggested otherwise.

Mourinho’s handling of both players indicates that Dumfries could start the new season as the preferred right-back, while Trent’s role may evolve into something different.

When Real Madrid brought in Dumfries, the assumption appeared fairly simple.

Trent was expected to continue as Mourinho’s main right-back option after an inconsistent first season in Spain.

Dumfries is now shaping up to be Real Madrid’s first-choice right-back.

Dumfries, meanwhile, looked set to add depth to the squad and take some minutes away from the Englishman over the course of a demanding season.

However, the way playing time has been shared in pre-season has cast doubt on that original view.

Against Fiorentina, Trent started at right-back, while Dumfries was deployed further forward on the right wing. The Englishman saw out the full match, while Dumfries came off in the 75th minute.

Mourinho then altered the setup against Ferencváros, starting Dumfries at right-back and bringing Trent on in the second half.

The same trend continued against Deportivo, with Mourinho once again naming the Netherlands international in the starting line-up and introducing Trent after the interval.

Dumfries played the full 90 minutes against Deportivo, although he shifted into a more advanced position during the second half.

Those selection decisions are now beginning to offer a clearer indication of the Portuguese coach’s thinking, with the former Inter defender currently leading the race to become Real Madrid’s first-choice right-back.

Trent Alexander-Arnold’s role under Mourinho could end up looking very different.

The battle between the two may not simply come down to choosing one conventional right-back over another.

That is because Dumfries gives Mourinho a direct and energetic profile.

He is capable of covering the right flank, attacking space and making a difference in advanced areas, something his positional shifts in pre-season have already highlighted.

Trent, on the other hand, increasingly seems to be viewed as a player who can shape Real Madrid’s possession play from deeper positions.

His passing range and vision allow him to help structure the team’s build-up rather than functioning only as a traditional full-back throughout a match.

That may explain why Mourinho is experimenting with both players instead of treating them as straightforward alternatives to each other.