Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher has warned Trent Alexander-Arnold against joining Real Madrid on a free transfer, saying the Anfield faithful will not be happy about it.
Liverpool academy graduate Alexander-Arnold is in the final year of his contract. The coveted right-back has been discussing his contract renewal for a while, but so far, the Premier League leaders have not been able to find a breakthrough.
Many teams are interested in prizing Alexander-Arnold away on a free transfer next summer, but according to the most trustworthy sources, Real Madrid are leading the race for his services.
Los Blancos pulled off an identical transfer in 1999, signing local star Steve McManaman for free. In 2004, they signed another local hero, Michael Owen. Since Owen had just one year remaining on his contract, Madrid could sign the last English Ballon d’Or winner by paying a mere £8 million for his services.
Liverpool Icon Jamie Carragher Explains Why Trent Alexander-Arnold Should Not Join Real Madrid for Free
Alexander-Arnold will be free to sign a pre-agreement with Real Madrid in January itself, to commit to joining them when the transfer window opens in the summer. Carragher, however, does not think that would be a good idea, as it would turn Liverpool fans against Alexander-Arnold.
The 2005 UEFA Champions League winner wrote in The Telegraph:
“That is the biggest issue for Trent – the free transfer. As with Macca, the supporters will feel that the club are losing an £80million player for nothing, and they will not like it. My advice to Trent would be to sign a new deal, with a reasonable buyout clause, that will give the club some value if Real or anyone else decides to meet it.
“The fans’ attitude towards Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk, both also out of contract in the summer, is not the same as it is for Trent. There are lots of reasons for that but a big part of that is the local-boy factor. The feeling is that playing for Liverpool should be the ultimate ambition for a Liverpool lad. It was that way for Macca, Michael, Stevie and myself and it will be the same for Trent and Curtis Jones.”
Alexander-Arnold has played 330 matches for the Reds since the 2016-17 season, scoring 19 times and providing 84 assists. He has won one Premier League title and one UEFA Champions League trophy, among other honours.
