Former Liverpool defender Trent Alexander Arnold set off for Real Madrid in the summer, ending what fans might have hoped to see him spend his entire career at Anfield
Trent Alexander Arnold reiterated that his decision to leave Liverpool was the toughest of his life. England International is currently in Real Madrid and has a six-year contract with a Spanish club. Some Reds fans continue to get frustrated with the way he exits.
Former Liverpool striker Michael Owen has insisted on fans supporting the club regardless of whether he is likely to move in the same direction during his own playing career and side with the player. The support section gave Alexander Arnold a tough time towards the end of last season, urging Player of the Year’s Mohamed Sarah to not boo him.
Now speaking to GQ Espana (via soccer Espana), Alexander-Arnold has opened up more about why he trades Anfield for Bernabeu. “It was one of the most difficult decisions in my life. Liverpool is my home. It made me me. But Madrid felt like the right step at the right time,” he said.
“It was an ambition, a personal desire for change. Challenging myself in a new environment. Of course, the legacy of Real Madrid cannot be denied. But more than that, what attracted me was my ambition and desire to test myself in a new environment.
“It’s a challenge, but I’m welcome. Playing with the Bernabeu is sacred. You can feel the weight of a shirt, but that’s what you’re trying to give everything you need.”
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Owen’s Madrid adventure lasted just a year, and the striker returned to Newcastle and the Premier League. By presenting a podcast earlier in the week, Rio Ferdinand shared his feelings about how fans responded to Alexander Arnold’s moves.
“I didn’t like it,” he said of the backlash against the defender. “Of course we understand that. We live it and we’ve lived it all the way through our lives.
“But fans never get it because they have a badge there. They will always support that badge until the day they die. And whatever the club does, they may be wrong.”
Alexander Arnold has started two of Real Madrid’s three league games this season, appearing as a late sub on the other, but has not yet hit top gear. Los Blancos has a 100% record under new manager Xabi Alonso, and Arda Guler and Vinicius juniors will be appearing on target in their weekend victory over Mallorca.
However, he was removed from the UK team, with Thomas Touchel turning to the versatile Newcastle fullback Tino Livrament in front of Chelsea’s Reese James and the Madrid man. “I talked to Trent, and it was a difficult call, but I wanted him to hear it from me.
“It’s all in the mix, but it’s a competitive decision, and just to make the competition a little more painful. First and foremost, I think Trent is a player who needs to feel trust and love from his manager, his teammates, his club, his country, his fans. He needs it.
“Reese is a little ahead in this position given what he did for us in the last two camps and how he played CWC for Chelsea, and for the rhythm he has, he went to Tino Libramento and he gave us the option to cover both sides.
“Ben White had a very good chance of being with us. I was very pleased with his preseason and the feedback I got from the club about him and his preseason. He started getting injured quickly and that ruined his chance with us. He would have had a very good chance with us.”
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