Trent Alexander-Arnold’s time at Liverpool looks to be finally coming to a long, drawn-out end and, quite frankly, the vast majority of us are relieved.
Since last summer it has been clear Trent wanted to see out his contract and move to Real Madrid. His relationship with his new ‘best mate’ Jude Bellingham was strong and the pull of the Bernabeu too alluring for the ‘scouser in the team’.
It felt like Groundhog Day for those of us old enough to remember the Michael Owen contract fiasco from 2003 to 2004. He had spent a full year umming and arring over signing a new deal, making excuses about his agent being on hiatus and holding out while his contract ran out.
Fortunately, incoming manager Rafa Benitez quickly demanded an end to the stalemate. Owen refused to sign the new deal offered to him, so he was sold to Real Madrid for a paltry £8m. At least we got some fee for him, but the player’s credibility was shot in the eyes of the vast majority of Liverpool fans and from then on he was nicknamed ‘Judas’.
Trent has been doing the same, dragging his heels over a new deal, refusing to put pen to paper and biding his time while his contract ran down. From 1 July he becomes a free agent and is fully expected to sign for the Spanish giants, commanding a higher wage because of the lack of a transfer fee.
He was already being lauded as a Liverpool legend by many, not least because of his heroics in the ‘corner taken quickly’ victory over Barcelona at Anfield in 2019. His mural looks down on fans walking to the ground on matchdays with the words ‘I’m just a normal lad from Liverpool whose dream has just come true.’
That dream is nearly over and Trent’s legacy looks like it’s going to be tarnished forever. He won’t be given an incredible send off like Bobby Firmino and most certainly won’t receive a rapturous reception if he ever sets foot on the Anfield turf for Real Madrid.
Adios, Trent!
