A mural honoring former Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold appears to have been vandalized just hours before he was due to return to Anfield with Real Madrid. The England star left the Premier League champions for La Liga after his contract expired, making a controversial exit. The two-time Premier League and Champions League winner is likely to receive a frosty welcome as he reunites with Arne Slott and his former team-mates.
Images of graffiti defacing a mural have been leaked on social media ahead of the showdown on Merseyside. The piece appears to have been covered in white paint, with various references to “rats” and a message in Spanish that roughly translates to “Adios the Rat.” This could be the second vandalism of donations within six months, following a previous incident in which the word “rat” was scrawled on him shortly before his departure.
The mural was commissioned by Liverpool fan podcast The Anfield Wrap in 2019 as a way to celebrate the Champions League winning season and inspire the next generation.
The painting, located on Cibid Road in the shadow of the 61,000-capacity stadium, depicts Alexander-Arnold and his number 66 shirt, along with the words from the night of victory at the Wanda Metropolitano: “I’m just an ordinary lad from Liverpool, and a dream has just come true.”
Asked what kind of reception the full-back expected to receive at Anfield on Tuesday, Slott was cautious about predicting the crowd’s reaction, but admitted he would give the Dutchman a “warm welcome”.
“I can only tell you what kind of reception he received from me. I have great memories of the player and the person,” he said.
“Last season he was my vice-captain. My memories of working with him and watching him on TV were only positive. I remember many great moments of him in a Liverpool shirt.”
“He will receive a warm welcome from me. Let’s see if he will be on the pitch tomorrow. I don’t know how the fans will react, but I am sure he will receive a warm welcome from me.”
