Trent Alexander-Arnold’s reason for Real Madrid transfer revealed by Jamie Carragher
Trent Alexander-Arnold has angered Liverpool fans by agreeing a free transfer to Real Madrid (Picture: Getty) Liverpool club legend Jamie Carragher believes Trent Alexander-Arnold desire to join Real Madrid on a free transfer is motivated by a desire to build his own personal brand. The 26-year-old appears destined to leave his boyhood club in the summer when his current contract expires and will join the Spanish giants with widespread reports earlier this claiming the move is a done deal. Reaction to the full-back’s impending departure has been typically toxic, on social media in particular, with some fans suggesting he should not play again this season or be allowed to join in the club’s likely Premier League title-winning parade. Carragher, however, feels the sentiment among the majority of Liverpool’s fanbase is far more empathetic towards a player who has given his all for the club and won every major honour available to him. He told The Overlap: ‘[On Trent Alexander-Arnold’s potential move to Real Madrid] I always think an international break is a time where every club are getting things in order for the summer and speaking to agents. So, it was always going to blow up at some stage. Get personalised updates on Liverpool every day Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro’s Football Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link we’ll send you so we can get football news tailored to you. ‘People look at the reaction, but social media is so toxic – ‘He shouldn’t play for the club again,’ or ‘Slot shouldn’t play him’ – people use that now as the barometer of the fan’s feelings, but it’s just a mad place [social media], it’s not what normal [fans think].’ Carragher, himself, stopped short of suggesting he was disappointed with Alexander-Arnold’s decision but feels he will be leaving the club with a measure of unfinished business. Trent Alexander-Arnold angered Liverpool fans with his goal celebration against West Ham (Picture: Getty) He added: ‘Where I’m at is that, as a local player and a Liverpool fan, Liverpool are in a position where they’re competing for the league and a European Cup every year. So, if you’re a Liverpool fan and a local player, I’m just disappointed that he doesn’t think that this is it. ‘I’m putting myself in his position, where I’d be thinking that we could go level with Manchester United in league trophies, I’ve got another seven or eight years at Liverpool and want to get three or four ahead of them, with a couple more European Cups. ‘We always talk about rivalries and never think of it as European. In some ways, Real Madrid is a rival, and no one will catch them – they are the biggest and most famous team- but I’m desperate for Liverpool to get second on that list – AC Milan are on 7 [European titles]. ‘If I was him, I’d be thinking that we’ve got a great opportunity to win the league this year and could do this and that and at the end of his time, put Liverpool in a position [to top others].’ What Liverpool legends have said about Trent-Alexander Arnold's transfer Michael Owen: ‘It’s all about personal preference because he has won everything he can at Liverpool and will already go down as a club legend. When I made the decision to leave, we weren’t as good as this current Liverpool team. From his point of view, it would be a cut off point and he would likely spend the rest of his career at Real Madrid.’ Steve McManaman: ‘If he feels as if he wants to experience a new lifestyle, new language, new culture, I’d have no qualms at all. It would be a huge miss for Liverpool but if he wants to do it, I’d completely respect him and be very proud, because he’s a local lad who has done incredibly well, which is what I love more than anything. ‘Real Madrid are a bigger, more professional, well-run machine now than when I joined. They have the new (revamped) stadium, and some of the best players in the world. Of course (fellow England international) Jude Bellingham is there, who is close to Trent. He’s won every trophy manageable with Liverpool.’ John Aldridge: ‘If he feels as if he wants to experience a new lifestyle, new language, new culture, I’d have no qualms at all. It would be a huge miss for Liverpool but if he wants to do it, I’d completely respect him and be very proud, because he’s a local lad who has done incredibly well, which is what I love more than anything.’ Trent Alexander-Arnold has been accused of ruining his legacy with Liverpool (Getty) While the motivation for joining Real might appear obvious given their pedigree, not to mention the financial rewards on offer, many Liverpool fans are struggling to come to terms with the England international’s desire to seek a new challenge. Carragher, however, believes Alexander-Arnold let slip a key reason for his decision in an interview earlier this seas
Liverpool club legend Jamie Carragher believes Trent Alexander-Arnold desire to join Real Madrid on a free transfer is motivated by a desire to build his own personal brand.
The 26-year-old appears destined to leave his boyhood club in the summer when his current contract expires and will join the Spanish giants with widespread reports earlier this claiming the move is a done deal.
Reaction to the full-back’s impending departure has been typically toxic, on social media in particular, with some fans suggesting he should not play again this season or be allowed to join in the club’s likely Premier League title-winning parade.
Carragher, however, feels the sentiment among the majority of Liverpool’s fanbase is far more empathetic towards a player who has given his all for the club and won every major honour available to him.
He told The Overlap: ‘[On Trent Alexander-Arnold’s potential move to Real Madrid] I always think an international break is a time where every club are getting things in order for the summer and speaking to agents. So, it was always going to blow up at some stage.
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‘People look at the reaction, but social media is so toxic – ‘He shouldn’t play for the club again,’ or ‘Slot shouldn’t play him’ – people use that now as the barometer of the fan’s feelings, but it’s just a mad place [social media], it’s not what normal [fans think].’
Carragher, himself, stopped short of suggesting he was disappointed with Alexander-Arnold’s decision but feels he will be leaving the club with a measure of unfinished business.
He added: ‘Where I’m at is that, as a local player and a Liverpool fan, Liverpool are in a position where they’re competing for the league and a European Cup every year. So, if you’re a Liverpool fan and a local player, I’m just disappointed that he doesn’t think that this is it.
‘I’m putting myself in his position, where I’d be thinking that we could go level with Manchester United in league trophies, I’ve got another seven or eight years at Liverpool and want to get three or four ahead of them, with a couple more European Cups.
‘We always talk about rivalries and never think of it as European. In some ways, Real Madrid is a rival, and no one will catch them – they are the biggest and most famous team- but I’m desperate for Liverpool to get second on that list – AC Milan are on 7 [European titles].
‘If I was him, I’d be thinking that we’ve got a great opportunity to win the league this year and could do this and that and at the end of his time, put Liverpool in a position [to top others].’
What Liverpool legends have said about Trent-Alexander Arnold's transfer
Michael Owen: ‘It’s all about personal preference because he has won everything he can at Liverpool and will already go down as a club legend. When I made the decision to leave, we weren’t as good as this current Liverpool team. From his point of view, it would be a cut off point and he would likely spend the rest of his career at Real Madrid.’
Steve McManaman: ‘If he feels as if he wants to experience a new lifestyle, new language, new culture, I’d have no qualms at all. It would be a huge miss for Liverpool but if he wants to do it, I’d completely respect him and be very proud, because he’s a local lad who has done incredibly well, which is what I love more than anything.
‘Real Madrid are a bigger, more professional, well-run machine now than when I joined. They have the new (revamped) stadium, and some of the best players in the world. Of course (fellow England international) Jude Bellingham is there, who is close to Trent. He’s won every trophy manageable with Liverpool.’
John Aldridge: ‘If he feels as if he wants to experience a new lifestyle, new language, new culture, I’d have no qualms at all. It would be a huge miss for Liverpool but if he wants to do it, I’d completely respect him and be very proud, because he’s a local lad who has done incredibly well, which is what I love more than anything.’
While the motivation for joining Real might appear obvious given their pedigree, not to mention the financial rewards on offer, many Liverpool fans are struggling to come to terms with the England international’s desire to seek a new challenge.
Carragher, however, believes Alexander-Arnold let slip a key reason for his decision in an interview earlier this season.
He added: ‘I think Trent is a player who looks at himself almost like a brand, and that’s not just him, a lot of players do now.
‘I go back to an interview he gave on Sky Sports before Christmas, where he was given five options on which he’d pick as the most important for you – captain of Liverpool, win the Champions League with Liverpool, win the World Cup with England, or win the Ballon d’Or – and he chose the Ballon d’or.
‘He wanted to be the first full-back that won the Ballon d’Or, and there’s nothing wrong with having ambition, but that didn’t go down particularly well with Liverpool supporters.’
