Real Madrid ‘only’ team I’d have left Liverpool for: Alexander-Arnold

MADRID: New Real Madrid signing Trent Alexander-Arnold said he joined the “only” team he would have considered leaving Liverpool for, at his presentation on Thursday.

Reds fans jeered Alexander-Arnold after the academy graduate revealed he would leave this summer, but eventually gave him a warm farewell on the last day of the Premier League season.

“It was never a question of where, it was whether to go or not to go,” the 26-year-old defender told a news conference. “I always knew... if I was to ever leave Liverpool, it would only be to go to Real Madrid, that would be the only club for me...

“I´m not going to say it was easy because I´d been there so long, been a part of it, but eventually, you have to make a decision. “In my mind, I´ve made the right one and it´s one that I´m very excited about.”

The right-back said the record 15-time European Cup winners´ history had to be “respected” and he wanted to add to it. “A big reason why I joined is to be a part of that amazing history that club´s got,” he said.

“Be a part of the success going forward, joining an exciting, young team with a lot of potential.” Alexander-Arnold, who moved for a fee even though his contract was expiring this summer, to speed up his arrival ahead of the Club World Cup, signed a deal until 2031. He joins former Liverpool midfielder and new Madrid coach Xabi Alonso´s project after winning a second Premier League title with Arne Slot´s Reds.