When Jurgen Klopp left Liverpool at the end of last season, one of his wishes would have been that Trent Alexander-Arnold went on to spend a majority of his career playing at Anfield.
But that looks like it will not be the case, with the Liverpool right-back now poised to make a move to the Real Madrid in the summer.
Alexander-Arnold accepted a move to Real Madrid despite the condition set by the Spanish giants that he will be paid a sufficient instead of an eye-watering salary — which highlights how keen the Englishman has been on the switch.
Liverpool back Conor Bradley to succeed Alexander-Arnold after his move to the champions of Europe is confirmed as there is a feeling of acceptance within the red half of Merseyside that the 26-year-old is set for an exit.
Jurgen Klopp blooded Bradley into the first-team and while he impressed from day one, there will be huge pressure on the youngster to emerge as a successful heir to Trent Alexander-Arnold — as he has arguably been the best right-back in the world for most of his senior career.
Jurgen Klopp indirectly warned Trent Alexander-Arnold about Real Madrid transfer
Klopp is likely to have full faith in the Northern Irishman taking on the sizable task, however and despite his affiliation to Liverpool, he will hoping for nothing more than Alexander-Arnold’s success.
But Jurgen Klopp warned Philippe Coutinho in 2017 that a move to Barcelona, Real Madrid or Bayern Munich would be one where he would be a small fish in a big pond — a word of advice that perhaps the West Derby-born defender should consider before departing the Reds.
Klopp said via ESPN FC: “Stay here and they will end up building a statue in your honour. Go somewhere else, to Barcelona, to Bayern Munich, to Real Madrid and you will be just another player. Here, you can be something more.”
However, Coutinho did not listen to the German’s advice and went on to have a disastrous spell at Barcelona and while Alexander-Arnold is a Premier League icon and a superior player to the Brazilian, it would be worth his time to listen to his former manager’s advice.
The England international could also end up feeling lost in a squad that is packed with megastars such as Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham, who helped convince Alexander-Arnold about Real Madrid.
Alexander-Arnold is a big name as well and has the quality and experience to become a legend at Real Madrid as well as the right to explore the opportunity of playing in Spain. But with Arne Slot also set to win the Premier League title at Liverpool, the revered right-back should consider whether it would just be better to help the club build a dynasty under the Dutchman.
Captain Virgil van Dijk could leave Liverpool as well and Alexander-Arnold would automatically take over as his boyhood club’s skipper to usher them into a new era once he departs, which is possible another factor he must ponder about.
What Liverpool did to persuade Trent Alexander-Arnold to reject Real Madrid
However, the Champions League winner’s mind is made up and more power to him as most players in the world can only dream of playing for a club of Real Madrid’s stature.
From Arne Slot’s point of view, he might no longer be disappointed as Liverpool offered Alexander-Arnold an incredibly lucrative contract to become the highest-paid English player in the Premier League and yet, the offer was rendered futile.
Alexander-Arnold will be hoping that Jurgen Klopp’s warning to Coutinho is not one that applies to him at Real Madrid and in fairness, it would be a huge surprise if he did not live up to the billing.
