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Trent Alexander-Arnold’s contract saga is over after the Liverpool right-back announced his intention to leave the club at the end of the season.
Alexander-Arnold has long been expected to join Real Madrid this summer and the first part of that formality is now complete.
There had been some late hope amongst Liverpool fans that the 26-year-old may stay and commit his future to his boyhood club, but that was ultimately misplaced.
Alexander-Arnold’s exit ends a 20-year association with Liverpool as he heads off for a new challenge in Spain.
The news was hand-delivered by the Scouser, who sat down for an interview with LFCTV as well as providing his own explanation on his social media channels.
And while Liverpool fans will today be furious – and upset – with Alexander-Arnold, the No.66 has made them a promise which may help to ease some of the pain.
Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images
Alexander-Arnold’s announcement has been expected for a long while, but will be no less disappointing to Liverpool supporters.
While it is understandable that he wants to try a new challenge after so long with his local team, the way Alexander-Arnold has gone about engineering a free transfer exit has been unforgivable.
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Nevertheless, the full-back was keen to point out how ‘difficult’ the decision has been to leave Liverpool and in a post on his X account, promised that he will be back at every opportunity.
“There’s no doubt about it, I’ll be back,” Alexander-Arnold promised.
READ MORE: Liverpool have told Trent Alexander-Arnold what will happen if he pushes for Real Madrid move in June
“Any chance I get I’ll come and watch games, I’ll be supporting, I’ll be wanting Liverpool to win and the club to remain successful, there’s nothing changing in that.
“I will always remain a Liverpool fan.”
Although it’s fair enough for Alexander-Arnold to want to return to Liverpool – and he probably does genuinely mean what he’s saying – Reds supporters may not want to see him back.
The boyhood Red had the chance to stay and become one of the best players in Liverpool history, but has passed that up.
That is fine, and players come and go.
Liverpool fans will not allow it.
In terms of whether Alexander-Arnold will ever be back as a player, that’s likely to be something we hear about every summer transfer window from now until the day he retires.
But given the strength of feeling his exit has thrown up, we’re not sure Alexander-Arnold will be welcome.
What a sad ending to a fabulous Liverpool career.
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