Trent Alexander-Arnold has this week confirmed his exit from Liverpool at the end of the season, with the defender set to join Real Madrid.

The 26-year-old right-back will end his two-decade-long stay with the Merseyside giants with Alexander-Arnold set to leave Liverpool having won everything there is to win with his boyhood club, with a second Premier League title secured this season.

With Alexander-Arnold promising to return to Liverpool in some capacity in the coming years, the England international’s move to Madrid has split opinion amongst supporters, with some viewing the defender as a legend while others see him as a traitor.

Yet heading towards the end of the season, Madrid could now end up paying Liverpool close to £1m to sign Alexander-Arnold despite the defender leaving for nothing.

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According to journalist Miguel Angel Diaz, Madrid want on Alexander-Arnold in their books and in the squad for this summer’s FIFA Club World Cup, a competition that starts before the defender’s contract with Liverpool officially ends.

As a result, Madrid could end up paying Liverpool €1m (£850,000) to release Alexander-Arnold from his contract early, with Los Blancos seemingly keen to win the first edition of the revamped competition this summer in the United States.

Indeed, Alexander-Arnold being signed by Madrid early could be somewhat beneficial for Liverpool given the small payday on offer, and the defender himself could be keen on featuring for the Spanish giants over the summer at this year’s Club World Cup.

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Diaz said on Madrid’s plan to sign Alexander-Arnold for the Club World Cup: “The intention of Real Madrid is to negotiate with Liverpool so that Trent Alexander-Arnold can play at the Club World Cup.

This deal could cost around €1m (£850,0000), he will sign for six seasons.”

This summer’s Club World Cup has complicated some matters for big clubs, with Madrid’s move for Alexander-Arnold just one of them, as the reigning European champions must now look for a way to bring the defender to Spain as early as possible ahead of the competition in the States.

Yet for Liverpool, the Premier League title holders should allow Alexander-Arnold to leave for Madrid early, especially with the defender’s decision now made official that he will be leaving Anfield at the end of the season.

Whilst Liverpool won’t bank the millions that many expected from a player like Alexander-Arnold, a small fee for the defender is better than nothing, and the fullback has more than deserved a chance to leave Merseyside on his own terms after everything he’s done for the club over the last eight years.