Stan Collymore has issued a passionate defence of Trent Alexander-Arnold amid fan backlash over his move to Real Madrid.
The Liverpool full-back has agreed terms with the Spanish giants, talkSPORT understands.
The full-back has agreed to join Real Madrid on a five-year deal this summer, ending his association of over two decades with Liverpool[/caption]
Alexander-Arnold is set to join Real Madrid this summer on a five-year deal worth more than £220,000-per-week.
He is set to become the third Englishman to leave the Reds for the Santiago Bernabeu, following in the footsteps of Steve McManaman and Michael Owen.
After 21 years at Anfield, Alexander-Arnold has faced criticism from Liverpool supporters for choosing to depart the club.
Furious Reds fan Pete told Matterface & Jordan: “For me, Trent has destroyed his legacy. He couldn’t even get up and now he’s going to be like Michael Owen.
“He’s actually worse than Michael Owen because Owen left when we weren’t winning stuff. Now he’s in a position to win everything at his boyhood club.”
However, former Liverpool striker Stan Collymore has defended the England international’s decision.
Collymore told Hawksbee & Baker: “If you look at it from a football perspective, Trent has been at the club for 20 years. He’s 26 years of age.
“So, you would look at this as your main move at the peak of your powers if you’re a professional footballer.”
The retired forward continued: “He’s won the Premier League, FA Cup, a couple of League Cups, Community Shield, Champions League, Super Cup, FIFA Club World Cup, played in other Champions League finals.
“So, there is literally, and I don’t want to burn any bridges with Liverpool fans, I just want to say from a player’s perspective and a business perspective of which you have to have that ability to be able to think like that. Because it is show business, not just show friends.
Alexander-Arnold has spent 21 years at his boyhood club[/caption]
“Even if he is a Scouser, even if he is imbued as a Liverpool supporter on the Kop, that he writes contracts, signs contracts to do business with Liverpool Football Club. And that’s the difference.
“He’s not joined Liverpool Football Club and been paid handsomely and said I’m going to be here forever because I’m a Liverpool fan.
“It’s a two-way street. If he’d have barely broken into the first-team and made 50 appearances, this kid’s going to be great and he breaks his leg against Everton in the derby and unfortunately can’t play again or he has aborted attempts to come back and play again. Liverpool biff him off.
“Let’s have it right Liverpool fans, they [the club] get rid. And he doesn’t have the legacy with Liverpool Football Club that he may have now.
“So it’s really important that all supporters detach themselves and they’re all mostly sane human beings, football supporters. We all get miffed when our hero leaves.
“But we understand that we’re walking into a business more than ever when we walk into a football ground.
“Trent Alexander-Arnold has the ability to go on a free transfer, he’s won everything there is to win, so he will look at it and say ‘I can’t do anymore, if I win a second or a third or a fourth Premier League from an achievement perspective, who cares?’”
Fellow former Liverpool man Stephen Warnock also hit out at the ‘negativity’ surrounding the news.
Warnock wrote on X: “Can’t believe the negativity directed towards Trent Alexander-Arnold and his potential move away from LFC.
“I’ve seen comments like, ‘he should be ashamed’ and he’s ‘not loyal to the club’ are deluded.
“He’s entitled to make his own choices and challenge himself in a different league and different country.
“He’s won everything with LFC, been an incredible servant to the club and should be given a great send off by the fans.”
Meanwhile, Collymore does have sympathy with supporters as they prepare to lose their local hero.
He added: “From the Scouser in our team perspective, of course he’s going to sit back and think (about) family, friends, ‘been here for 20 years, the club have looked after me really well’. But he’s looked after them really well, so it’s a no-sum game.”
Having joined the club in 2004, Alexander-Arnold made his first-team debut as an 18-year-old in 2016.
He has gone on to make 349 appearances for Liverpool, scoring 22 goals and providing 87 assists from right-back.
Still only 26, Alexander-Arnold is also on course to win his second Premier League title this season.
The defender has already won eight trophies with his boyhood club, including the Champions League and Club World Cup.
