After amassing 349 appearances in a Liverpool shirt it now seems almost certain that Trent Alexander-Aronold will be swapping Anfield for the Santiago Bernabeu.
Real Madrid have pushed to sign Alexander-Arnold and it seems as if the 26-year-old is ready for a new challenge in Spain, a full-back who’s otherwise spent his whole career at Liverpool.
Even as a youngster Alexander-Arnold never left Liverpool on loan – he made a smooth transition to the first-team at the age of 18 after captaining all of the club’s youth sides.
Unsurprisingly, news of the Englishman’s impending departure has evoked an emotional response from a lot of Liverpool fans.
Not only are supporters on Merseyside gutted to lose such a talented homegrown player, but many are also lamenting the reality of it happening for free.
Roy Keane loves Trent Alexander-Arnold’s decision to join Real Madrid
That being said, Roy Keane shared an alternative view on the Alexander-Arnold saga on the ‘Stick to Football’ podcast.
Instead of warning the Liverpool defender about the risks of leaving Anfield, Keane instead told Alexander-Arnold to ‘go for it’, suggesting that he was making a courageous decision.
Keane said: “What I love about a player, you’re on about a player having strengths, you’re on about a player coming through when your contract is up.
“I like when a player like Trent says, Jamie, you’re not about winning trophies at Liverpool and legacies. I like when players are going, no, no, my legacy is what I’m going to do.
“And that’s learn a new language and playing in a tough league.
“And all his family, we’re sitting here, questioning his defensive abilities and what will happen in Real. He’d be thinking that as well, but that’s a new challenge for him.
“I admire players, I go, listen, if I was sitting with a player now and he had a chance, and I had these opportunities. I’d be saying, go for it.”
Trent Alexander-Arnold won’t find it easy under Carlo Ancelotti
Whilst Jamie Carragher was disappointed with Alexander-Arnold’s decision, perhaps there is still a reality that isn’t getting enough attention.
Right now it’s almost being assumed that the Liverpool defender will walk into Carlo Ancelotti’s side – the latest on a long list of Galaticos.
However, Dani Carvajal will soon return to full fitness and he’s undoubtedly a more well-rounded defender than Alexander-Arnold right now.
And in addition Federico Valverde and Lucas Vasquez have also been thriving in the role, albeit whilst they are playing out of position.
So by no means should it be considered that the Liverpool defender is taking the ‘easy option’ signing for the best team in the world – he’s going to have to work hard to win a spot in Ancelotti’s eleven.
