Report: Richard Hughes told Alexander-Arnold something that surprised him during Liverpool's title parade
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Liverpool supporters have taken some delight in the fact that Trent Alexander-Arnold is struggling to get fully going at Real Madrid this season.
The right-back became a hugely controversial figure at Anfield last term after deciding to run down his contract with the Reds.
However, things have not been completely smooth for Alexander-Arnold since joining the self-styled ‘biggest club in the world.’
After the return of Dani Carvajal, the former Liverpool player lost his place in the team, before being omitted from Thomas Tuchel’s latest England squad.
This has led to some smugness on Merseyside, where Alexander-Arnold‘s status as a pariah is unlikely to fade any time soon.
The Liverpool academy graduate’s exit is one of the most hurtful in years for supporters, and some interesting details are now starting to emerge about what really went on behind the scenes.
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One of the biggest issues Liverpool fans have with Alexander-Arnold is that he left the club for a pittance.
There have been recent claims that Alexander-Arnold saved the Reds around £145m during his time in the first team, but he should really have handed them at least half of that in a transfer fee.
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Nevertheless, thanks to Real Madrid’s participation in this summer’s Club World Cup, Liverpool did at least receive around £10m from the Scouser’s sale.
And according to The Telegraph, Alexander-Arnold was initially unaware that he was going to be sold, rather than leaving for nothing in July.
The 26-year-old was reportedly told what was happening during Liverpool’s Premier League title parade, where Michael Edwards, Mike Gordon and Richard Hughes are said to have pulled him for a ‘discreet chat.’
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There they reportedly told Alexander-Arnold that they had agreed a fee with Real to let him out of his contract early.
The information is claimed to have ‘surprised’ the right-back, who reportedly left the discussions for the clubs themselves.
Edwards, Gordon and Hughes are said to have been ‘generous’ with Alexander-Arnold, wishing him luck and expressing happiness that they had managed to recoup a fee for his services.
Unfortunately, the piece from The Telegraph does read a little as though Alexander-Arnold’s agents may have had some input into the process of writing it.
While Edwards, Gordon and Hughes may well have shared their happiness at getting a fee for the England international’s sale, there is no way his exit can be dressed up as good news for Liverpool.
The Reds were clearly keen on keeping Alexander-Arnold, but he resisted any attempt to make that happen.
He may have saved the club a good amount during his time in the Liverpool squad, but he also lost them a huge chunk by leaving in the manner which he did.
It all feels a little like damage control from Alexander-Arnold’s end now the dust has settled.
Liverpool fans are unlikely to fall for it.