TAA-ra
Trent Alexander-Arnold's time at Liverpool could be coming to an end - it's hard to begrudge him a move to La Liga.
Trent Alexander-Arnold looks set to leave Liverpool, his boyhood club since the age of 6, for Real Madrid and the reaction from a portion of Liverpool fans has been strong, to say the least.
He shouldn’t play another minute this season is a popular one I’ve seen, as is the notion that he shouldn’t be involved in the trophy celebrations if and when Liverpool win the Premier League. An astonishing suggestion for a player who has contributed in 28 of those league games with nine to go, with two goals and six assists. But no, Trent is supposedly selling his soul and throwing away a chance at becoming a Liverpool legend.
Maybe it’s a Liverpudlian thing —resentment at a hometown hero looking beyond Liverpool — but plenty of local match-going fans reject this narrative.
And it’s a narrative I can’t really get on board with. Putting all application of fandom and one-club loyalty aside, you have a player at the very top end of his industry choosing to try something different in his field of expertise, in a new part of the world, with a different industry leader. In any walk of life this would be widely accepted, but in football — and sport in general — it is frowned upon as treason.
Trent, having won all there is to win at Liverpool, has clearly looked around at his situation and thought “do you know what, I think I’d like to try something new”. Real Madrid came knocking, and the prospect of a few seasons in the sun appeals to him, broadening his football horizons with a good mate of his and playing alongside some of the best players in the world, in a new league with new goals and objectives.
Putting my Liverpool cap back on, it is a real shame to see a local player, especially one of the calibre of Alexander-Arnold, want to leave. There is plenty more to be won at Liverpool and, indeed, the history and heroism of being a one-club legend is not something that comes around too often in sport. Undoubtedly, leaving all that behind is damaging to a player’s legacy in the long term. We’ve seen it with Michael Owen or Steve McManaman; leave on your own free will and you’ll rarely be welcomed back too warmly into the bosom of Liverpool Football Club nor be truly regarded as a club “legend”.
Steven Gerrard flirted with leaving a couple of times and held tough — until he was pushed out late in his career and moved to LA Galaxy. He was recently welcomed back to Anfield in a charity match and was lauded by the crowd as if he had never left.
We pillory UK-based players for not wanting to expand their horizons and explore football on the continent. That’s becoming less of a thing these days as more and more English players head around Europe, but when a player considers a move to Real Madrid who, whether Liverpool fans like to admit it or not, are the biggest brand in world football. I find it difficult begrudge such a move. Hypocrisy in sport isn’t rare — the same Liverpool fans would have been amongst the first to comment on Martin Zubimendi’s “lack of desire” when choosing to stay at his local club Real Sociedad last summer rather than move to Anfield.
Alexander-Arnold has won everything at Liverpool and is leaving having achieved his dreams of playing for the club. He’ll likely add another league title this season, and would depart as one of the most talented players in club history — as well as one of the most polarising as far as media and commentators are concerned.
He’s far from the best defender in the world, but it’s hard to deny that every negative moment in his play is scrutinized as a referendum on his ability. His statistics and assist-making going forward are the best the Premier League has ever seen for a defender, yet his defensive qualities are lambasted at every opportunity. His defensive shortcomings are scrutinized relentlessly in England, which may be a factor which plays into his decision. Madrid’s media will be just as harsh but at least the language barrier offers some protection.
The fact that he’d be going on a free transfer has been another stick to beat Trent with — something I really push back on. It is nowhere near his scope as a football player to maximise his worth off the field to an already extremely wealthy organisation. Liverpool are one of the richest clubs in the world and expecting Alexander-Arnold to weigh Liverpool’s financial interests in his career decisions is absurd. If Liverpool wanted to bank something they should have sold him earlier. As it turns out, his contract is about to run out and he is a free man. It’s likely his decision to leave has been a recent one, but the club and the club only are at fault for letting it reach this stage.
And who’s to say Real Madrid would have been as interested if it required a huge lump sum to prise him from Liverpool?
As with Gerrard, a player is useful until he isn’t — Alexander-Arnold choosing to take his career into his own hands is his own prerogative, before the club makes that choice for him. By all reports, they have made a concerted effort to retain him and have offered him a bumper new deal, but I don’t know if money is as much a factor here as is expanding one’s horizons in a very time limited career. He’s done it all at Liverpool and can now try and do the same at Madrid.
And it’s not like he’s leaving for a different club in the Premier League. That would taint things entirely, but he’s moving to a completely different league. He hasn’t fanned the flames in the media — just the opposite, he’s kept his counsel and although he pulled out the “talking” celebration, that was likely more pointed towards his detractors on his performances rather than some obscure reference to the discussion around his future.
So as far as free agent rumblings go, there really isn’t much of a story here. A player has seen out his contract and is moving on to pastures new having achieved all that there is to achieve. He hasn’t been disrespectful, he’s continued performing to the best of his abilities and will likely leave on an ultimate high as league champion.
Sure it’s a shame to see a local lad leave his local club, but as sporting separations go its likely going to be quite amicable from all involved. And hopefully the section of fans who intend to label Alexander-Arnold as some sort of Judas for turning his back on what they hold dearest to them realise and accept that dreams change and sport isn’t always the sentimental fairytale we wish it to be.
Trying something new here - I’d love to answer some questions from readers, if anyone is so inclined to drop a message and hear my thoughts on anything sports related in some sort of mailbag section here next week. Drop a message below or reach out wherever you can find me!
Totally agree, which is perhaps easy to say for someone who doesn’t support Liverpool, but it seems a shame that people are determined to forget the great times a player has given them and perhaps diminish the memories. Ideally you’d thank the player for everything and wish them well. I get that it hurts though, a home grown player of such quality leaving when Liverpool are on the up (although Bradley is clearly a top replacement.)
I knew Owen had kind of cursed his own legacy (exacerbated by the Man United move) but I had wondered how McManaman was viewed. Arsenal fans vilified Frank Stapleton for joining United and Michael Thomas Liverpool, although not Liam Brady who went to Juventus! Maybe Van Persie (not home grown) would still be received warmly had he joined a European team rather than United, though personally I understand why he put his trophy ambitions first as he neared 30 and appreciated the 100+goals he scored for us, including many against Spurs! Hopefully time will heal the disharmony, as it did with Thomas (although if the scorer of the club’s most famous ever goal isn’t appreciated, something is clearly wrong!)