Trent Alexander-Arnold looks ‘devoid of joy’ in his return to training after reports of his imminent move to Real Madrid, according to a body language expert.
Alexander-Arnold is widely expected to leave Anfield in the summer and join Real Madrid on a free at the end of his contract. It would be a bitterly disappointing scenario for Reds fans, who have adored the academy graduate since his first-team debut back in 2016.
The defender is Madrid’s top target for the upcoming summer transfer window, and his close friendship with Jude Bellingham has made a deal seem more-than-likely. Alexander-Arnold’s silence on a new deal – especially compared to teammates Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk – has led many Reds fans to fear the worst.
Alexander-Arnold was filmed arriving for training by the club’s official media team, and supporters were quick to notice the relatively-glum look on his face. Body language expert Judi James believes the defender is feeling regret – and his teammates know it.
“All the guys arriving for training in this brief video project non-verbal signals of pleasure, playfulness and rapport apart from Alexander-Arnold who looks solemn and serious, using rituals that could be as much about farewell as hello, including one telling gesture that would normally be associated with feelings of regret,” she told Liverpool.com. “He looks devoid of joy here and the other players appear wary.
“He could arguably be trying to look as though he’s in ‘Warrior’ mode here but that wouldn’t account for the way other players in the distance seem to be watching his face with some interest.”
Fans online were quick to notice the reaction of some of Alexander-Arnold’s teammates, with Alexis Mac Allister in particular seeming a bit subdued. And James noted that his interaction with Cody Gakpo, who didn’t look at him when shaking his hand.
“The other players in this clip show some odd-looking reactions,” she continued. “His first sideways greeting receives a downward glance from [Gakpo] and Alexander-Arnold performs it as a distracted greeting, looking at [Dominic Szoboszlai] rather than focusing his eye attention on the player whose hand he is clasping.
“There is a solemn slapping of hands with the next player [Szoboszlai] but we can see one guy behind the table seeming to gaze at Alexander-Arnold’s face and Mac Allister seems to do the same type of questioning, unsmiling face-gazing here too.”
