Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has offered his thoughts on Trent Alexander-Arnold’s widely discussed choice to depart Anfield when the season concludes. On Monday, the 26-year-old full-back broke the news that he would be leaving his childhood team, with a move to Real Madrid on the horizon after the Spanish giants reached out for his signature.
Alexander-Arnold, who started his senior Liverpool tenure back in October 2016, labeled walking away from the club he’s called home for over 20 years as “easily the hardest decision I’ve ever made in my life”. Nonetheless, the England international maintains that seeking a fresh challenge and pushing beyond his comfort zone necessitated this tough call.
Taking to social media to shed light on his departure, Alexander-Arnold said: “After 20 years at Liverpool Football Club, now is the time for me to confirm that I will be leaving at the end of the season.
“This is easily the hardest decision I’ve ever made in my life.
“I know many of you have wondered why or have been frustrated that I haven’t spoken about this yet, but it was always my intention to keep my full focus on the team’s best interests, which was securing No.20.
“This club has been my whole life – my whole world – for 20 years.
“From the academy, right through until now, the support and love I have felt from everyone inside and outside of the club will stay with me forever.
(Image: Getty Images)
“I will forever be in debt to you all, but I have never known anything else and this decision is about experiencing a new challenge, taking myself out of my comfort zone and pushing myself both professionally and personally.
“I’ve given my all, every single day that I’ve been at this club, and I hope you feel like I’ve given back to you during my time here.
“From the bottom of my heart, I thank everybody – my coaches, my managers, my team-mates, the staff and our incredible supporters – for the last 20 years.
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“I’ve been blessed enough to live out my dreams here and I will never, ever take for granted the special moments I’ve been fortunate enough to have lived through with you all.
“My love for this club will never die.”
Since going public with his statements, Alexander-Arnold has received an overwhelming show of support from Liverpool players past and present, including Jordan Henderson, Mohamed Salah, and Ibrahima Konate.
And by Tuesday afternoon, Van Dijk was seen sharing his goodwill too, leaving behind an enthusiastic hand-clapping and heart emoji on the defender’s Instagram post.
* An AI tool was used to add an extra layer to the editing process for this story. You can read the original story in the Liverpool ECHO by clicking here.
