Trent Alexander-Arnold's future at Liverpool looks increasingly up in the air as his contract situation continues to drag on. While Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk appear likely to sign new deals, there remains a lot of uncertainty about the right-back.
Having come through the ranks at Anfield, Alexander-Arnold has spent his entire professional career with his boyhood club. But there remains a feelin that he could be swayed by Real Madrid at the end of the season.
It would be a true sucker punch for Liverpool to lose its No.66 at this stage in his career but as yet, no deal has been signed. And he could effectively talk to Real about a pre-contract in a matter of days.
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Time will ultimately tell if the 26-year-old is to extend his stay on Merseyside. Alexander-Arnold has given very little away about his future, yet he has continued to outline his ambitions, both individually and collectively.
That has led to the likes of Jamie Carragher suggesting he may actually be on the move with Liverpool supporters' worst fears potentially being realized.
On Liverpool ambitions
“I have always said I want to captain the club," Alexander-Arnold told Sky Sports when asked about his future in September. "That is a goal of mine, whether that happens is out of my hands."
The sentence that came next was perhaps a little more worrying, depending on your interpretation. "I want to be a Liverpool player this season [as a minimum] is what I will say."
Dreams of the captaincy are long-held. Back in 2019, he told Sky Sports (via the Mail) as much:
"I am fortunate to have the people around me who understand the balance between letting me get comfortable, praising me too much and feeding that hunger that needs to be there. In terms of wanting to strive to be better, wanting to be one of the best players in the world, the best right back in the world, being the first name on the team-sheet, wanting to be Liverpool captain, wanting to be England captain."
Trent Alexander-Arnold of Liverpool wearing the captain's armband during the pre-season friendly match between Liverpool FC and SV Darmstadt 98 at Deepdale on August 07, 2023 in England.
Alexander-Arnold has already donned the Liverpool captain's armband on occasion. (Image: Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
In December 2020, Alexander-Arnold was handed the armband for a Champions League meeting with Midtjylland. He described that experience as "special". And when he was named vice-captain last summer, he hailed it a "stepping stone" to the permanent captain's position.
As well as the captaincy, Alexander-Arnold has previously outlined ambitions to be a one-club man. In 2018, not long after his breakthrough, he said as much to The Times:
“There is nowhere else I’d rather be than Liverpool. Somewhere I want to stay for the rest of my career is Liverpool. It’s what I’ve always dreamed of. Liverpool are special. It’s completely down to the fans. Whether we are winning or losing we always have their love.”
On trophies and individual ambitions
"The most important thing is always trophies if I am honest," said Alexander-Arnold when asked what will influence his decision over whether or not to stay at Liverpool. It's possibly the most candid he has been over his future.
"I want to win trophies, I am a player who is highly motivated by trophies and winning things and being elite. So that is probably the main factor of anything, if you have a personality that is elite, who wants to win and will do anything to win then that is what drives me."
There are also personal targets and Alexander-Arnold sparked speculation in October when he outlined his ambition to win the Ballon d'Or. "I believe I can," Alexander-Arnold, told Sky Sports. "I want to be the first full-back to ever do it.
"It's only the morning after you retire that you're able to look in the mirror and say, 'I gave it everything I got'. It matters what you give to the game and if you reach your full potential."
On Real Madrid
Alexander-Arnold has not said much publicly about Real Madrid. Word out of the club is that he was always determined that the contract saga would not play out in public, given his huge respect for Liverpool.
However, he has spoken about his relationship with Jude Bellingham, undoubtedly a worry for Liverpool fans — barely a year on from hopes that Alexander-Arnold could sway the midfielder toward an Anfield switch. The two have grown very close.
In April, The Overlap (brought to you by Sky Bet) asked Alexander-Arnold about his best friends in football. "I would say club, Robbo, internationals probably Jude," he replied.
However, going much further back, Alexander-Arnold expressed a preference for Barcelona over Real Madrid. “I'd say my favorite other team would be Barca,” he told GQ in 2020.
"I feel as though they've got kind of the same values and beliefs as Liverpool, they like to bring players through the academy. I grew up watching Messi and that special Barcelona team, with Iniesta, Xavi, Henry, Eto'o."
This article was first published in October 2024. It has since been updated.