Trent Alexander-Arnold has remained tight-lipped regarding his Liverpool contract situation. That has only invited more speculation about Real Madrid, but the vice-captain has been warned he would be throwing it all away if he moved to the Spanish capital.
Held up as a fairy story, Alexander-Arnold has won it all after emerging from the club’s academy system, and until recently looked destined to one day take over the captaincy from Virgil van Dijk. But we could be about to reach the chapter where Prince Charming and Cinderella go through an ugly divorce.
Perhaps running away from the ball would have been a safer strategy for Alexander-Arnold on Tuesday, when he picked up an injury against PSG. As well as ruling him out of the Carabao Cup final, where Jarell Quansah will now likely start, it would be a bitter note on which to end his Champions League career with Liverpool.
After all, this is the competition where Alexander-Arnold’s “corner taken quickly” has been immortalized. The scorer, Divock Origi, is a cult hero — the assisster is well on the path to becoming a bona fide legend.
In fact, to paraphrase Taylor Swift, all he has to do is stay. Such are his achievements at Anfield to date, Alexander-Arnold would already be guaranteed legend status if he ended up as a one-club man, regardless of any future silverware.
But leaving for nothing in order to join Real Madrid as he enters his peak years would unavoidably taint what has gone before. Alexander-Arnold would still have a place in the Anfield annals, but it would not be alongside his hero Steven Gerrard.
Another Scouse sports star, Paddy Pimblett has discussed Alexander-Arnold’s position. He has warned the full-back how much he would be giving up by making the move:
“Trent could stay, lad, because nowadays, these players that are fit, he could play until 35, 40 years of age,” UFC star Pimblett told Ace Odds. “Look at James Milner.
“Trent could stay and be a legend and have a statue built after him.”
(Image: Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)
A statue might be going a little far. Even Gerrard is yet to earn that honor (although he has called for it to be given to Jurgen Klopp).
But there’s no doubt that Alexander-Arnold could etch his name into foklore. However, like plenty of other Liverpool fans, Pimblett expressed fears that Alexander-Arnold may have already had his head turned.
“He could also leave if he wants to,” Pimblett conceded. “Personally, I think it looks like he’s already got his bags packed.
“It’s also different for Trent. He hasn’t got a family, Trent’s a single lad.
“He loves his fashion, Madrid is like a fashion hotspot. His best mate Jude Bellingham plays for them.”
No doubt all of these might be considerations to a greater or lesser degree. But supporters will still struggle to see how they could outweigh the pull of his boyhood club.
Yes, Alexander-Arnold has won everything already. But having watched someone who loves Liverpool as much as the rest of us come through the ranks, it is hard to fathom how a “new challenge” could truly appeal more than joining immortal names like Gerrard and Kenny Dalglish.
Maybe Alexander-Arnold feels that his legacy at Anfield is already safe. Maybe it’s a simple case of the money talking.
Or maybe Pimblett and others are wrong, and Alexander-Arnold still hasn’t made his decision. There has been nothing concrete to indicate that his mind is made up.
If that is the case, he could do worse than listening to Pimblett. The fashion capital might be tempting right now, but walking out on the team that has given you everything is something that you can never undo.
