Trent Alexander-Arnold is unlikely to publicly address his expected move to Real Madrid anytime soon, although he may have already made his feelings known in private.
The Liverpool vice-captain looks as though he will be on his way out of Anfield this summer, with a transfer to the Bernabeu now looking inevitable after various outlets suggested a deal to take him to Spain was on the verge of being finalized.
Fans have been left far from happy with the prospect of losing Alexander-Arnold for nothing this summer, although Liverpool may still receive a transfer fee with Real eager to get the right-back in time for the revamped Club World Cup.
Nevertheless, a number of supporters do seem to have turned on the academy graduate, who has rarely made any media appearances this season, let alone addressed his future with the Reds. That’s unlikely to change for the next few weeks at least, but Alexander-Arnold has reportedly spoken privately about the situation.
According to Spanish outlet Defensa Central, the 26-year-old has been left saddened by the backlash he has received from Liverpool fans since the reports of his expected move emerged last week. He’s said to have “spoken privately with those close to him”, and feels he shouldn’t be to blame for potentially leaving the club for nothing.
Instead, it’s suggested that he feels Liverpool is to blame, having turned down an offer from Real during the January transfer window.
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The report comes as confusion reigns over a video posted by Mohamed Salah on Saturday which featured Alexander-Arnold. The Egyptian, who is also out of contract in the summer as things stand, shared the video – which showed the right-back sitting on his couch alongside Ibrahima Konate and Dominik Szoboszlai – on his Instagram account just days before the Reds return to action against Everton.
Salah is no stranger to posting cryptic messages over his own future, and his latest post only raises further questions about himself and Alexander-Arnold as their contracts run down.
Liverpool.com says: If Alexander-Arnold really has been taken aback by the response from Liverpool fans to his impending move to Madrid, then he shouldn’t be. Assuming he is making the move to Spain, which looks almost certain to be the case now, that decision was always going to lead to some backlash considering the way he’s approached things this season.
The radio silence throughout the last year or so has been deeply frustrating, and even now it still feels like we’re being taken along for a ride when we already know what the outcome is. At this point, it just feels like if he’s going to leave, he should just announce it – it shouldn’t make any difference to Liverpool’s title hopes now, and the sooner it’s out in the open the better.
