Trent Alexander-Arnold endured an awkward return to the training of Liverpool on Monday, a few days after agreeing to leave Anfield for Real Madrid in summer.
Liverpool’s right rear, which is an integral part of the success of the Reds under Jurgen Klopp and Arne Slot since her emergence in the club academy, should join the Laliga giants at the end of the season at the expiration of his contract.
It was largely reported earlier this week than the proposed move of Alexander-Arnold to Madrid had already been signed and sealed. Although Mail Sport understands that this statement was premature, it is believed that the player and Real Madrid are convinced that an agreement to take Alexander-Arnold from Anfield to Bernabeu on a free transfer will pass once the season is over.
The decision made Alexander-Arnold an unpopular figure on the Merseyside with regard to Liverpool fans, several supporters accusing the Liverpudlian of turning their backs on the team, leaving nothing.
With the international break completed and dusted, the Reds returned to the Premier League action on Wednesday with a crucial Merseyside derby against the Amers Everton rivals, sitting 12 points ahead of Arsenal in the title race.
Despite the imminent release of Alexander-Arnold, Slot will be impatient to use the best players at his disposal through the last nine games of Liverpool, while the Reds continue their second title of the Premier League.
Trent Alexander-Arnold endured an awkward return to the formation of Liverpool on Monday
The Reds’ right right would have agreed to sign for Real Madrid during a free transfer this summer
He went around shaking the hands of his teammates when arriving at the Reds Axa training center
In a video published on social networks by the official Liverpool account on Monday, Alexander-Arnold could be awkwardly seen shaking the hand of the teammates Dominik Szobozslai, Alexis Mac Allister and Cody Gakpo while he was returning for training at the AXA training center in Kirkby.
The rear right seemed not to establish supported visual contact with any of the players, while his teammates all cut discouraged figures.
Earlier in the video, Mohamed Salah was full of smiles while he welcomed Joe Gomez at the training center, after talking with Szobozslai.
Salah and Virgil van Dijk are also likely to leave Liverpool at the end of the season, the two superstars contracts expiring on June 30, like Alexander-Arnold.
Alexander-Arnold, 26, has been at the Merseyside Club since he joined the Youth Academy in 2004.
After entering the first team in 2016, he represented the Reds in 349 senior games and helped bring seven different silverware pieces to Anfield.
The news of his imminent departure sparked the anger of certain supporters of Liverpool, the return of England becoming the subject of generalized mistreatment on social networks, while a fan went so far as to film a video of themselves burning a printed shirt with “ Alexander-Andold 66 ” at the rear.
Several experts have asked that Alexander-Arnold is up to his right to continue a move to Real Madrid, playing in the controversy.
Alexander-Arnold fails to establish visual contact with Alexis Mac Allister after shaking hands
Alexander-Arnold has been in Liverpool since he joined the Academy of young people from the club in 2004
He won seven different trophies with Liverpool, including UEFA Champions League
Chris Sutton said on the Podcast Mail Sport “while dismantling!” Earlier this week: “Just because Trent wants to leave, it does not mean that he does not have much affection for the club.
“He has been there for over 20 years. Overall, it is his choice. I think that with the backlash – do these people have a great understanding of football?
“I think this criticism comes from Knuckleheads. He gave excellent service in Liverpool. He has won everything he can win with the club and now he wants to try something different.
Meanwhile, the former Arsenal star and England Paul Merson told Sky Sports: “I don’t know what the problem is.
“He came there, he was incredible. He won everything in the game there, in Liverpool, and he will go free.
“Look at Antony, he has just been bought by Man United for 80 million pounds sterling (in 2022) and he is now on loan and no one says a dicky bird.
“This boy was absolutely exceptional for Liverpool. He did not come like a flop of 60 million pounds sterling. He crossed the ranks, he entered the team, he was phenomenal. And … it’s Real Madrid. Do you know what I mean?
An angry Liverpool fan went to Tiktok this week to burn a printed shirt with the player’s name
Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah have not yet agreed with contract extensions in Liverpool
“He won the League (in 2020). He will win the Premier League with Liverpool again (this season). He won the Champions League (in 2019), and I don’t see a problem with this. I really don’t do it.
“I don’t know anyone in the world of football that has already reduced Real Madrid, I don’t. Journal for the boy, good luck to him.
“I think Liverpool fans should be happy for him.
“He gave everything for this club, and I think he deserves this movement, in my opinion.”