Dietmar Hamann believes that Liverpool fans “deserve to know” what decision Trent Alexander-Arnold has made over his future following major reports that he’s on the verge of signing with Real Madrid.
Alexander-Arnold is out of contract in the summer and, like Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk, is yet to sign an extension with Liverpool. The defender has been heavily linked with Madrid since the start of the season, and several reports on Tuesday claimed that Alexander-Arnold is on the verge of signing a pre-contract agreement.
Should Madrid and Alexander-Arnold reach an agreement, the Spanish club must inform Liverpool. Hamann thinks that Liverpool need to communicate better with the fans, and announce that Alexander-Arnold is set to leave if he’s rejected a new contract after months of silence.
In an interview with Card Player, Hamann argued that Liverpool fans deserve to know the truth about Alexander-Arnold even if his decision isn’t a popular one. “I thought the contract wasn’t spoken about in public because Liverpool was winning games, but now they are in a very strong position to win the league and I think something will be said after the international break,” Hamann said.
“If a decision has been made, I think the fans deserve to know. They could also then give him a great send off during the final nine games of the season in a swansong. I think the fans deserve to know if a decision has officially been made, maybe that hasn’t been the case yet, but the club are running out of time.”
Madrid has been monitoring Alexander-Arnold’s situation for two years and have been in regular talks with the defender since January. With Alexander-Arnold’s contract set to expire in June, he has been free to negotiate with clubs since Jan. 1, though a pre-contract agreement is yet to be formally signed.
(Image: 2025 CameraSport)
After capturing Kylian Mbappe as a free agent from Paris Saint-Germain, Madrid has been scouting Alexander-Arnold as a free, long-term replacement for Dani Carvajal. While Madrid will pay Alexander-Arnold a handsome salary and steep signing bonus should he formally sign, he won’t require a transfer fee despite having a value of $80 million.
Alexander-Arnold is a life-long Liverpool fan and was named PFA Young Player of the Year when the Reds ended their 30-year wait for a Premier League title during the 2019-20 season. Alexander-Arnold has gone on to win every major trophy with his boyhood club, but is now chasing personal accolades.
During an interview with Sky Sports in October, Alexander-Arnold was asked about his career ambitions and said: “I’d say win a Ballon d’Or, because I believe I can. I want to be the first full-back to ever do it. I believe it. Some people may call me deluded, but I believe I can.”
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Alexander-Arnold may believe that his chances will increase at Madrid, as he hopes to be the best full-back of all time. Legendary Madrid full-back Roberto Carlos never managed to win the Ballon d’Or, and Hamann believes that Alexander-Arnold should rethink his decision to leave the club if that’s his only incentive.
“I do not know how Trent Alexander-Arnold could win the Ballon d’Or as a right-back,” Hamann said. “Fabio Cannavaro won it as a defender but it’s near enough impossible.
“Joining Real Madrid won’t harm his chances, he’ll be competing to win the Champions League every year, the spotlight will be on him more. But if winning the Ballon d’Or is the reason that he wants to join Real Madrid, he should forget it and stay at Liverpool.”
Only two defenders in history have won the Ballon d’Or, Franz Beckenbauer (1972, 1976) and Fabio Cannavaro (2006). Even last season despite winning the Champions League, Madrid stars Vinicius Jr. and Jude Bellingham lost out to Manchester City midfielder Rodri, and in protest, the Spanish giants boycotted attending the Ballon d’Or ceremony.
