Real Madrid intends to ask Liverpool to release Trent Alexander-Arnold in time for him to play in the Club World Cup for FREE, despite his Anfield contract not expiring until after the tournament has kicked off.
Alexander-Arnold has made public his decision to leave his boyhood side this summer and while Real Madrid has not yet officially been confirmed as his next destination, that is very much an open secret at this stage. But as it stands, he would not be able to link up with his new teammates as quickly as Real Madrid would like.
The Spanish giant has not made a financial offer to Liverpool for the Reds to release the player from his contract early. It instead is supposedly hoping the Anfield side will allow the right-back to move to Spain for nothing before his contract expires at the end of June.
That is according to The Telegraph, who also report that Alexander-Arnold would forego the rest of his Liverpool salary in order to make the move happen. He would, presumably, still be paid, just by Real Madrid instead.
As things stand, Alexander-Arnold will miss Real Madrid’s group fixtures at the Club World Cup. Those are against the Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal on June 18, Mexico’s Pachuca on June 22, and Red Bull Salzburg of Austria on June 27.
The knockout stages of the tournament begin on June 28. The last-16 ties are completed by July 1 which is when Alexander-Arnold’s contract would ordinarily begin.
Given the prize money for the competition is $125 million (£94 million) and Alexander-Arnold would help Real Madrid’s chances of taking home the biggest share of the prize, it would seem fair if compensation was agreed.
But there is little point in Liverpool blocking Alexander-Arnold from taking part as long as an agreement can be reached. The Reds will have finished their season by that point and the other players will be on holiday.
“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,” Alexander-Arnold said when he announced his exit.
“This is easily the hardest decision I’ve ever made in my life. I know many of you have wondered why or 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.
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“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.
“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 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 teammates, the staff and our incredible supporters – for the last 20 years.
“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.”
