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The futures of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk were hot topics throughout Liverpool's season, and all three players' futures have been resolved in a matter of weeks.

The situation has panned out as many expected it to, with Salah and Van Dijk staying, and Alexander-Arnold leaving, with Real Madrid his destination.

It has not been officially confirmed that Alexander-Arnold is moving to the Bernabeu but there is not a shred of doubt that he is heading to the Spanish capital.

Madrid has made a habit of signing high-profile free agents in recent years, with Alexander-Arnold following Kylian Mbappe, Antonio Rudiger and David Alaba in joining Los Blancos for nothing.

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The confirmation of Alexander-Arnold's exit raises questions about his goal celebration during a heavy Liverpool win at West Ham over the Christmas period, when he raised his right hand to his ear and performed a talking gesture.

That gesture suggested that speculation surrounding his future was exactly that — just speculation — but his decision to quit Liverpool shows that was not the case; few believed it ever was.

Alexander-Arnold said in his farewell interview with club media that, prior to deciding to join Madrid, there was a "massive possibility" that he was going to sign an extension at Liverpool.

But it never really felt as though that was the case, largely due to the seven months that Alexander-Arnold went without discussing his future.

Speaking last September, Alexander-Arnold said: “Look, I have been at the club 20 years now.

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I am glad to be a part of them."

For a player that supposedly loves the club, that is a long time without an update, and that is what led supporters to realise that he was never going to stay at the club.

Those special moments that Alexander-Arnold spoke about post-Leicester are now a thing of the past, and while trophies are a virtual guarantee at Real Madrid, they won't feel quite as special as they did with the Reds.


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