Liverpool icon Jamie Carragher is convinced that Trent Alexander-Arnold wants to leave the club but has warned the right-back that he could permanently lose the affection of Reds fans should he secure a move to Real Madrid. Alexander-Arnold is out of contract at the end of the season and could move to the Bernabeu on a free transfer.
The player is regarded as one of the most talented defenders in Premier League history after racking up 19 goals and 84 assists in 330 appearances for the Reds.
He played a starring role as Liverpool lifted their first Premier League trophy in 2020 and was also key to their Champions League and Club World Cup success the previous year.
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Carragher spent his entire career with Liverpool after coming through the club’s academy. And writing in The Telegraph, the 46-year-old explained: “That is the biggest issue for Trent - the free transfer.
“As with Macca (Steve McManaman), the supporters will feel that the club are losing an £80million player for nothing, and they will not like it.
“My advice to Trent would be to sign a new deal, with a reasonable buyout clause, that will give the club some value if Real or anyone else decide to meet it.”
Alexander-Arnold will be free to agree terms with an overseas club from January 1 if he hasn’t put pen to paper on a new Liverpool contract by that stage.
And Carragher added: “The big question that faces Trent Alexander-Arnold now is how much he values his legacy as a Liverpool great, and how he wants to be remembered in the many years that follow the short career of a professional footballer.
“My instinct is that Trent fancies a change. He does not live on Merseyside, as is the case with many of the team, and he seems to have the taste for something different. That is his prerogative, but it also comes with its price.
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“If he leaves for free in the summer, it will be hard for many Liverpool fans to accept the loss of a major asset for nothing.
“The club is their world and many of us see no reason why Liverpool could not go on to compete for the very biggest trophies under Slot. Of course, life at Real is pretty good too and Trent may well accept the consequences at Liverpool for a move to Madrid.
“But at heart he is a Liverpool lad, and he will be a long-time retired. For those who stay the course at Liverpool, that love and affection from the fans is for life.”
