Liverpool fans are bracing themselves for a potential departure of their beloved right-back, Trent Alexander-Arnold. With only three months left on his contract, Alexander-Arnold is free to negotiate with other clubs, and Real Madrid are currently in the driving seat to land him on a ‘Bosman’.
The 26-year-old has been a significant part of Liverpool’s success, winning multiple titles, including the Premier League (2019/20) and Champions League (2018/19). However, the club are seemingly now resigned to losing him for free.
Real Madrid have been monitoring Alexander-Arnold for over two years, and Los Blancos intensified their efforts to sign him during the January transfer window. While there is no official agreement yet, reports suggest that a deal is close to being completed.
If Alexander-Arnold eventually joins Real Madrid, it will mark the end of an era for Liverpool. The local boy joined the club’s academy at just six years old and has since become an integral part of the team. This unsettling situation has left many Liverpool fans anxious, and it appears like it’s a matter of when, not if, Alexander-Arnold will depart the club. Meanwhile, the club must finalize its summer plans, which will likely include securing a replacement for the outgoing right-back.
This article explores Alexander-Arnold’s legacy at Liverpool and whether leaving on a free transfer could jeopardize his legendary status at his boyhood club. We’ll also examine why the 26-year-old is eager to join Madrid and what lessons he can take from former Liverpool stars who departed at the peak of their careers.
What Is Alexander-Arnold’s Legacy at Liverpool?
Alexander-Arnold progressed through Liverpool’s academy to become one of the club’s greatest homegrown players. Having joined at the age of six, he made his first-team debut under Jurgen Klopp in October 2016. He has made 349 appearances for the Reds, scoring 22 goals and providing a remarkable 87 assists. The England international played a key role in ending Liverpool’s 30-year wait for a Premier League title in the 2019/20 season, earning him the PFA Young Player of the Year award.
The 26-year-old has secured every major club trophy available, including the Champions League, UEFA Super Cup, Club World Cup, FA Cup, and two League Cups. Following the departure of Jordan Henderson, Alexander-Arnold was named vice-captain by then-manager Jurgen Klopp in recognition of his leadership qualities.
Since the 2017/18 season, no defender in Europe’s top five leagues has provided more assists or created more chances than the Liverpool right-back. His ability to deliver pinpoint accurate crosses into the opposition box has been a hallmark of his game, making him a valuable asset to the team’s attack.
Former Reds stars, Steve McManaman and Michael Owen, who also moved to Real Madrid from Liverpool, have had their say regarding Trent Alexander-Arnold’s proposed move to the Spanish club.“If he does choose to go to Real Madrid and he does choose to forge a new adventure with a new language and a new lifestyle, all credit to him,” said McManaman, who coincidentally moved to Real Madrid on a free transfer. He spent four years in the Spanish capital and won two La Liga titles and two Champions Leagues, scoring in the 2000 final win over Valencia. “It is a fantastic opportunity for him, if he does go, and no doubt he will be a superstar there as well.”
Michael Owen, who endured a tough spell at Real Madrid, thinks Alexander-Arnold will find it hard to turn down the chance to play for the Spanish giants. “He’s been there, seen it, done it, won everything, got the t-shirt. He could retire at the club and be an all-time legend, he already will be an all-time legend. He can be sitting there thinking, I’ve done everything. I’ve achieved absolutely everything at my boyhood club. Who can deny me a chance to go and play for one of the biggest teams in the world, a new experience, a new country, new language, new weather, new food, new everything? And what a team,” Owen said.
However, Jamie Carragher has warned the 26-year-old that his legacy at Anfield could be damaged by his move to the Spanish capital. “It’s more than a football decision,” the former Liverpool defender, who made 737 appearances for the club, debated that “It’s about his legacy at Liverpool and how he is seen. Do you want to be seen like Gerrard or McManaman? He went to Real Madrid and won cups but he is not adored”.
“As a local player, Trent has been there 20 years. I don’t think it would be nice to have a feeling of leaving on a free. I guarantee Liverpool supporters will feel that way. Things are expected of you as a local player. I think to leave Liverpool is difficult as a local player. I wanted to leave in the right way so they remembered me in the right way. If he stays, he will be remembered as one of the best to play for the club and not far behind Gerrard.” Carragher’s strong remarks have drawn mixed reactions from the fanbase, and whilst there is some credence to his comments, many feel that Trent’s situation is uniquely different given that he’s already delivered numerous titles for the club and may simply be seeking a new challenge, as opposed to deserting his boyhood club.
Real Madrid’s Appeal Impossible To Ignore
While Trent Alexander-Arnold has already achieved great success with Liverpool, the appeal of playing for Real Madrid is impossible to turn down as Michael Owen aptly stated. Real has been the most dominant team in Europe in recent years, winning 6 of the last 11 Champions League titles.
Real has also eliminated Liverpool from the Champions League four times in Alexander-Arnold’s seven campaigns, giving him a firsthand taste of competing against one of the world’s best teams.
Trent will also have the opportunity to play at the iconic Santiago Bernabeu stadium alongside some of the world’s best players, including Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior, Thibaut Courtois, and his friend Jude Bellingham. The squad depth and quality will also increase his chances of winning more trophies.
Madrid’s financial strength, boosted by their upgraded stadium, means they will continue to attract top talent. This financial security, combined with their on-field success, makes them an appealing option for all top players. In addition, a move to Madrid would also bring Alexander-Arnold closer to achieving his dream of winning the Ballon d’Or. Real Madrid has produced more Ballon d’Or winners than any other club, with eight players claiming the award a total of 12 times.
Alexander-Arnold has never hidden his desire to become the first full-back in history to win the Ballon d’Or. He angered some Reds fans last October when he revealed that he would rather win a Ballon d’Or than another Champions League with Liverpool.
“I want to be the first full-back to ever do it. It’s only the morning after you retire that you’re able to look in the mirror and say, ‘I gave it everything I got’,” he told Sky Sports during an interview in October 2024. “It doesn’t matter how many trophies you win, or how many medals you’ve got. It matters what you give to the game and if you reach your full potential.”
The full-back also stated that he didn’t just want to be remembered as a successful player who won lots of medals but as the greatest right-back of all time. “A legend of football, someone who changed the game,” he said. “That is the main thing that I have – ‘don’t play the game; change the game’. I want that legacy of being the greatest right-back to have played football. I have got to reach for the stars and that’s where I believe my ceiling can go.”
The Grass Isn’t Always Greener
Liverpool fans have reacted with a mixture of shock, anger, and disbelief as news of Alexander-Arnold’s impending departure emerged. Many fans see this as betrayal, especially given his deep connection with the club. Some fans have been fierce in their criticism, questioning his commitment and even accusing him of chasing personal glory over club loyalty. But this sense of disappointment is not new to Liverpool fans. They’ve seen it before with players like Philippe Coutinho and Fernando Torres.
Coutinho was signed for £8.5m in 2013 and he went on to score 54 goals and provided 43 assists in 201 games. His impressive performances caught the attention of Barcelona, who eventually signed him for £142m in 2018. However, Coutinho’s time at Barcelona was marked by struggles to reach the same heights as he did at Liverpool. He scored only five goals in his first full season in Spain and was eventually loaned out to Bayern Munich and Aston Villa.
Similarly, Fernando Torres’ departure from Liverpool in 2011 was a bitter pill to swallow for the fans. Torres had established himself as one of the top strikers in the world during his time at Anfield, scoring 81 goals in 142 games. His £50m move to Chelsea was a then-British transfer record.
Torres’ exit from Liverpool was marred by controversy, and his form suffered greatly at Chelsea. Despite winning the Champions League and FA Cup in 2012, he failed to make any significant impact, scoring only 45 goals in 172 games for the Blues.
Michael Owen also joined Real Madrid after spectacular performances for Liverpool, but he struggled to find his footing among the Galacticos. He returned to the Premier League with Newcastle but never regained his Liverpool form. Owens’ decision to join Manchester United later in his career tarnished his legacy at Anfield.
These players will remind Alexander-Arnold that the grass isn’t always greener, however, he can take inspiration from the likes of Luis Suarez, Raheem Sterling, and Xabi Alonso, who became great successes after leaving Liverpool.
Conclusion
As Trent Alexander-Arnold nears a move to Real Madrid, it’s clear that this decision will have a significant impact on his legacy at Liverpool. But joining Real Madrid would give him the opportunity to play alongside some of the world’s best players and increase his chances of winning more trophies. He would also have a stronger chance of winning the Ballon d’Or, an award that has been won by several Real Madrid players in the past.
Should it tarnish his legacy at Liverpool? It’s a heated debate with compelling arguments on both sides. However, it would be unfair to criticize a player who is on the verge of winning his second Premier League title and has amassed over seven major honours at Anfield. Perhaps the real culprits are the club’s Board—who are largely responsible for allowing the situation to reach this point. Whether they delayed offering Trent a new contract or failed to present a deal worthy of his calibre, their mismanagement has played a crucial role in his potential departure.
From a financial standpoint, it’s a zero-sum equation: he arrived for nothing and Liverpool will receive nothing if he departs in the summer. But his impact on the club goes far beyond monetary value. Alexander-Arnold has been a cornerstone of Liverpool’s modern resurgence, a generational talent nurtured by the academy who not only met but exceeded expectations. In many ways, his potential departure mirrors LeBron James’ move from Cleveland to Miami—albeit without the same level of spectacle. Regardless of how the departure unfolds, his time at Anfield should be remembered and celebrated for what it truly was: the rise of a homegrown star who helped shape an era of success.
But is this the right move for Alexander-Arnold? The pressure to perform at a club like Real Madrid is immense, and he will have to be prepared to handle both the expectations and fierce competition for places. Only time will tell if this decision proves to be the right one for him.
