Trent Alexander-Arnold, the 26-year-old Liverpool right-back, is reportedly going to Real Madrid at the end of the season.
Real have been tracking Alexander-Arnold for quite some time now, and his move to the club should prove to be quite an achievement for the club.
Alexander-Arnold will be a free agent on July 1, and Real might be able to secure a free transfer to replace Dani Carvajal, whose contract expires in June 2026, in the long run.
Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah will also become free agents this summer and it remains to be seen whether their contract is renewed either.
Trent Alexander-Arnold’s Liverpool Journey Has Been a Story of Success
Alexander-Arnold has made 349 appearances in his nine seasons with Liverpool. He has also won a UEFA Champions League and a Premier League title each for the Reds and is on the verge of winning his second Premier League title this season.
The above record makes him the second most successful right-back in the Premier League in recent times after Kyle Walker.
Alexander-Arnold is one of the best crossers of the ball in England at the moment. His overlapping ability, coupled with his ability to play as a hybrid holding midfielder, makes him a great offensive option.
However, Alexander-Arnold has been found wanting in terms of his defensive acumen at times.
He has struggled against the opposition left-wingers like Vinicius Junior, Jeremy Doku and Gabriel Martinelli at times.
One good thing for him is that he will not have to play against Vinicius any longer should he decide to sign for Real Madrid.
The defensive abilities of the players are usually tested seriously on big European nights, and therefore, Alexander-Arnold cannot afford to be lax in that aspect.
Real Madrid regularly play in the latter stages of the Champions League, and Alexander-Arnold’s ability will be put to a test in them.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Trent Alexander-Arnold’s Real Madrid Move: A Devastating Blow for Liverpool?
Liverpool Stars Have a History of Making the Move to Real Madrid
Both Steve McManaman and Michael Owen went to Real Madrid from Liverpool.
McManaman won a couple of Champions League titles with Los Blancos, alongside two La Liga titles. Owen was not as fortunate and spent a solitary season in Madrid, scoring 16 goals in 45 matches.
Both the above players were derided to some extent by a section of volatile Liverpool supporters for their decision to leave the club.
They never managed to rise again in the eyes of the supporters. Even Alexander-Arnold has been facing a lot of flak and criticism since the reports of his likely transfer to Real Madrid came.
However, those things will be forgotten once success on the football pitch starts coming.
Alexander-Arnold still has a long way to go in his career and should enjoy playing for the most successful club in the world.
It might challenge him as well to improve his game and become a better player overall. He will, however, have to fight with Dani Carvajal for a place in the starting XI of Real Madrid.
Main Photo
Credit: IMAGO / Action Plus
Recording Date: 16.03.2025