The news that Trent Alexander-Arnold is set to join Real Madrid after failing to agree a new contract with Liverpool has rocked Reds fans, and Alan Shearer has now had his say
Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer has claimed that the reaction from some Liverpool fans to the news that Trent Alexander-Arnold is poised to join Real Madrid has “irritated” him. While there’s been no concrete announcement from the Liverpool star or his potential new club, news broke on Tuesday that the full-back was in advanced negotiations to move to the Spanish capital on a free transfer come the summer.
Alexander-Arnold’s 20-year association with the Reds now looks likely to be severed at the end of the season as he enters into the final few months of his contract at Anfield with no agreement over an extension in place.
The news has been typically met with anger and disappointment from some Liverpool supporters, who will no doubt be disheartened to see a Premier League and Champions League-winning academy product depart the club. Yet Shearer believes the Reds’ vice-captain deserves a respectful send off should he leave the club, and that some of the responses have rubbed him up the wrong way.
“It’s not really a surprise because there’s been so much talk around Trent and Real Madrid but I just look at some of the comments, and a lot of the time I don’t because it irritates me,” Shearer told Betfair.
“But when I looked at some of the comments on Tuesday when the news broke, I know it’s his club but he’s been brilliant for Liverpool, played a huge part in everything they’ve done in the last few years and he’s won every single trophy with them.
“He’s been a main player in doing that and has played just under 400 games, been hugely successful and given everything to that football club.
“Trent should be allowed to make the decision to say yeah, he wants to go and try something new, go into a different country for one of, if not the biggest club in the world in Real Madrid and he should be given a great send-off from the Liverpool fans if it happens.
“There hasn’t been a single occasion where you can question his attitude, he’s always given his all and he’s tried to do it in the correct way. He hasn’t got involved in all the talk.”
While the Kop faithful will be concerned at potentially losing a player of Alexander-Arnold’s calibre, especially with Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk’s contracts also winding down on Merseyside, Shearer has maintained that Arne Slot’s side will recover, as they always have done after club legends have moved on.
“Look at the great players they’ve had that have always been replaced,” he said. “For a great midfielder in Graeme Souness, you then get Steven Gerrard.
“Liverpool will move on, still be a great football club and will still win stacks of trophies – there’s no doubt about that but it is what it is and Trent should be allowed to say that he wants to try and sample something different in a different country.
“Trent is leaving a huge powerhouse of a football club and joining another one in Real Madrid. For him to try something different in a new country after all he’s done for Liverpool. I just think that should be respected.”
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