Arne Slot offered up a classy response to Trent Alexander-Arnold upon learning of his decision to leave Liverpool.
The saga involving Alexander-Arnold is now over after he announced he will be leaving Liverpool at the end of the 2024/25 season. While his move to Real Madrid has not been officially confirmed yet, there is no doubt he will be moving to the Spanish capital to link up with Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappe at the Bernabeu.
That Liverpool won the Premier League this season in Slot’s first year in charge is impressive. That they managed to do so with contract uncertainty surrounding Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Alexander-Arnold for most of the season is even more so.
Salah and Van Dijk signed new deals recently, while Alexander-Arnold confirmed on Monday he would be departing his boyhood club after helping them to their second Premier League title.
And it has emerged the Reds right-back informed Slot of his decision to leave Anfield during the March international break. Alexander-Arnold, who has won everything there is to win at the top of the club game with the Reds, told the Dutchman of his desire for a new challenge and the need to step out of his comfort zone.
Upon learning of Alexander-Arnold’s decision, Slot, according to the Athletic, told the right-back: “You’re a huge part of this team and let’s end it on a high together.
That then prompted Alexander-Arnold to reply: “My mindset and commitment won’t change. I’ll continue to give everything for this club until the final day.”
Liverpool had wanted to keep Alexander-Arnold, with sporting director Richard Hughes even reaching out to the right-back before officially starting his job with the Reds last year. Official talks between the two sides opened following the confirmation that Slot would be replacing Jurgen Klopp as the new Liverpool boss.
However, ultimately it seems as though Alexander-Arnold had his heart set on leaving Liverpool, a decision that can not have been easy for the 26-year-old.
“I think first and foremost, I want to say it’s not an easy decision and there’s a lot of thought and feeling that has gone into it,” Alexander-Arnold told Liverpool’s official club website.
“I’ve been here 20 years now, loved every single minute of it, achieved all my dreams, achieved everything I’ve ever wanted to here.
“Giving everything day in, day out for 20 years, I’ve got to a point now where I feel like I need a new change, a new challenge for me as a player and as a person. And I think now is the right time for me to do that.”
(Image: Getty)
He added: “There’s a lot I would like to say [to the supporters]. The main thing is a massive thank you. You guys have been there from the start with me, you guys have supported me, been there.
“I’ve felt the support, the love, everything that you guys have done has never been unnoticed by me, I’ve loved every single minute of it. I hope they have felt that has been reciprocated and that I’ve given everything I could to the club.
“I’m just hoping that we’re able to carry on winning games, the noise [around my decision] doesn’t take away from the fact of what we’ve achieved this season.
“It has been an amazing season. It has been amazing to be part of it and I just hope that everyone is able to maybe not dwell on this news for too long and be able to celebrate what the rest of the lads have done.”
