Former Liverpool striker Fernando Morientes believes Trent Alexander-Arnold will struggle to win the Ballon d’Or at Real Madrid.
Alexander-Arnold is widely expected to join Madrid this summer after confirming he will leave the Reds when his contract expires in June. The 26-year-old right-back was booed at Anfield on Sunday during the 2-2 draw with Arsenal after coming off the bench.
With Alexander-Arnold being from the Liverpool suburb of West Derby, his decision to leave his boyhood club on a free transfer has left many fans feeling angry and disappointed. He’s called it the “hardest decision” he’s made during his soccer career. Jeremie Frimpong, meanwhile, is being tipped to replace Alexander-Arnold at Liverpool.
Alexander-Arnold has previously stated his desire to win the Ballon d’Or before hanging up his boots, and Morientes thinks that’s possible. Yet the ex-striker, who played for both Madrid and Liverpool, believes the departing Reds defender will struggle to do so.
“Using what I know historically about the Ballon d’Or, I see that as very complicated,” Morientes told CasinoHawks. “If Trent Alexander-Arnold has an exceptional season in every sense, it means he’s attacking a lot, that he’ll score a lot of goals.
“But if he scores a lot of goals, then Kylian Mbappe will score a lot of goals, Jude Bellingham will score a lot of goals, Vinicius will score a lot of goals.
(Image: Antonio Villalba/Real Madrid via Getty Images)
“It seems to me that this Ballon d’Or is designed for midfielders and attackers. Very rarely do we see defenders or goalkeepers. In fact, Fabio Cannavaro comes to mind in our time and little else, and everything else is scoring midfielders and forwards or exceptional players.
“Can Alexander Arnold win the Ballon d’Or at Real Madrid? Yes. Is it very difficult? It is very difficult. I see it as almost impossible, but it’s good that he comes with those expectations. This means he has very high ambitions.”
Speaking to Sky Sports last October, Alexander-Arnold said he wants to be the first ever full-back to win the Ballon d’Or. “I just want that legacy of being probably the greatest right-back to ever play football, to be honest,” said Alexander-Arnold.
“I know that there’s been many out there but, you know, I’ve got to reach for the stars, and that’s where I believe my ceiling can go.”
Alexander-Arnold added: “I want to be the first full-back to ever do it. I said it in that interview with England, it’s only the morning after you retire that you’re able to look in the mirror and say, ‘I gave it everything I got.’
“It doesn’t matter how many trophies you win, or how many medals you’ve got. It matters what you give to the game and if you reach your full potential.
“I’ve heard potential being thrown around my name since I was six. If you reach that potential, and you know you’ve hit that potential and you’ve given it everything to maximise that potential and be the player that you think you can be, one of the best ever, then you’ll be happy, doesn’t matter how many trophies you win.
“Some people may call me deluded, but I believe I can.”
