The once Anfield darling, now donning the famed white of Real Madrid, Trent Alexander-Arnold, has opened up about his much-anticipated return to Liverpool, as the Spanish giants gear up for their Champions League encounter at Anfield on Tuesday evening.
Alexander-Arnold, who made his name at Liverpool, bid farewell to his boyhood club this past summer, transferring to Real Madrid on a cut-price deal as his contract at Anfield neared its expiration. His move to the Santiago Bernabéu had been the talk of the terraces, as murmurs of an impending exit circulated amidst the final year of his contract alongside the likes of Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk. Yet, it was Alexander-Arnold whose departure seemed most inevitable, with the young right-back identified as the perfect heir to Dani Carvajal’s throne in Madrid.
The early days of his Madridista journey have been marred by injuries, presenting challenges for the Englishman, but as Real Madrid, under the stewardship of Xabi Alonso, prepare to face Liverpool, Alexander-Arnold finds himself at the heart of a narrative that seemed preordained.
In conversation with Amazon Prime Sport, the stalwart defender reflected on the draw’s prophecy-like significance: “When the draw was announced, I think everyone kind of knew it was going to happen, it was destined for that fixture to come.”
Acknowledging Liverpool’s prowess, he added, “Obviously, they’re a top team, so I knew at some point I’d end up going back there or playing against Liverpool. It’s happening so soon. Mixed emotions. I think it’ll be a very, very difficult game but one that I’m excited for.”
Despite the potential for a pivotal contribution on the pitch, Alexander-Arnold vowed not to celebrate should he find the net against his former side. His unwavering affection for Liverpool shines through: “Whatever way I’m received is the decision of the fans. I’ll always love the club, I’ll always be a fan of the club. I’ll always be thankful for the opportunities and the things we achieved together – they’ll live with me forever.”
Further reflecting on his allegiance, he shared, “No matter what, my feelings won’t change towards Liverpool. I’ve got memories there that will last me a lifetime and, no matter how I’m received, that won’t change.”
Moreover, the England international addressed rumours of Jude Bellingham playing a clandestine role in his transfer to Los Blancos: “There was a lot of speculation, the ‘agent Jude’ stuff. It was more so in his first season [at Real], we’d meet up at England camps and everyone would want to know what it was like behind the scenes… He said it was incredible, and he’d never seen anything like it. The drive from the whole club, to win and the expectation to win.”
In the end, Alexander-Arnold reveals his decision was driven by a yearning for fresh challenges: “I’d made my mind up at the end of the day, I needed a change for me. I wanted a new challenge on and off the pitch.”