Trent Alexander-Arnold was booed onto the field by a large number of Liverpool supporters during the Reds’ draw with Arsenal last weekend and UFC star Paddy Pimblett was among them.
The Premier League champions were able to commit Mo Salah and Virgil van Dijk to new contracts but Alexander-Arnold elected to move on after two decades at Anfield.
He’ll be linking up with former Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso at Real Madrid next season and ‘The Baddy’, a charismatic MMA lightweight and lifelong Liverpool supporter, added his voice to the growing discontent around the perceived manner of the England right-back’s decision.
“I’ve never ever in my life seen one of our players get booed. That’s how you know it’s real,” Pimblett said in an interview with ESPN.
“It’s standard. If you’re going to string your club along… You’re meant to be a scouser, lad.
“Van Dijk and Salah are now more scousers than he is, simple as that.
“They were talking all year about wanting to stay, wanting to sign a new contract. He just didn’t do an interview about it because he knew he was leaving.”
Pimblett’s level of insight into the machinations of Liverpool’s contract dealings is unclear but he captured the strength of feeling among a large section of Liverpool support.
Alexander-Arnold announced his Anfield departure in a video, saying all the right words but apparently failing connect with the intended audience.
“Even that pitiful video he put out,” added Pimblett. “Reading a teleprompter. Nothing that he said was from his heart. He didn’t even get emotional, if I was leaving Liverpool Football Club I’d be crying my eyes out. He’s forgotten where he’s come from.”
Trent Alexander-Arnold was booed by some Liverpool fans (Image: Getty)
Liverpool fans have faced criticism from football pundits and other supporters who look at Alexander-Arnold’s success and years of service but don’t all have the same proximity to the situation as Pimblett and other die-hard Reds who’ve had their say.
“All the pundits and that, don’t try and tell me how I should feel. If I feel like booing him, I’ll boo him. It’s as simple as that. He shouldn’t be at the trophy parade because it will just bring the mood down,” said the 30-year-old star of the octagon.
The Reds won the Premier League title at the first time of asking under new manager Arne Slot.
They play Crystal Palace at home on the last afternoon of the season and will parade the trophy in the city centre the following day, with or without the wantaway full-back.
Featured Image Credit: ESPN and Getty
Topics: Paddy Pimblett, Liverpool, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Premier League, Champions League
