Former Liverpool striker Michael Owen has claimed that Reds fans should not be upset about Trent Alexander-Arnold leaving Anfield for Real Madrid and should instead wish him good luck with the Spanish giant.
Earlier this week, Alexander-Arnold confirmed his intention to depart as a free agent when his Liverpool contract expires at the end of the season. While Real Madrid has not yet been officially announced as his destination, that will come sooner rather than later.
The news has brought a mixed response from Liverpool supporters. While there are those who are angry, others believe the team is still in a strong position to improve even without its number 66.
The Reds did everything they could to convince him to stay, but Alexander-Arnold ultimately decided that he wanted to try something new. That was the one thing that Liverpool was never going to be able to put on the table.
Alexander-Arnold could play a maximum of three more times for Liverpool before departing, with games against Arsenal, Brighton and Crystal Palace coming up at the end of the campaign.
“Who can criticize him, really? I know there will be one or two people that will,” Owen told ITV Racing. “He has been there, seen it, done it, and won everything that the game has to offer for Liverpool.
(Image: Marc Atkins/Getty Images)
“If he wants to go and try something new for his family and for him, just to do something different in his life, I’ve got no problem. It’s different, and that’s the beauty of it.
“You go to a different country and it’s different food, different weather, different language, different football. It’s a new stadium and it’s a white kit, not a red. There is a lot of difference.
“If I was a Liverpool fan, and I know half of fans will be screaming at the telly, but I would be saying thank you very much for all your service. You’ve been incredible and you’ve won everything. Thank you, good luck, and we wish you well.
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“That’s what I think, but of course we’re talking football, and football is different to everything else. If you get a promotion in your job, you say well done and congratulations. But if it’s football, you’re a traitor, which is sad because he has done everything.”
Alexander-Arnold has played 352 games for Liverpool so far in his senior career, winning every major trophy at least once. He has scored 23 goals and provided 86 assists.
Liverpool.com says: While the Reds will be fine without Alexander-Arnold, it will be strange seeing Liverpool without its vice-captain. Fans are entitled to feel however they like about him deciding to move on.
The player himself was more than aware that the news coming out was never going to go down well. It will be interesting to see what reception Alexander-Arnold gets on Sunday against Arsenal.
