Rumors swirled during the first half of the 2024-25 season that Trent Alexander-Arnold had been taking Spanish lessons as speculation mounted over his future at Liverpool.
Alexander-Arnold was being heavily linked with a move to Real Madrid at the time, but the player had said in September that he had no intention of addressing his Liverpool future in public.
The 26-year-old went another seven months before discussing his future again, as he spoke after scoring the winner in Liverpool's win over Leicester in April.
It seems likely that, during those seven months, Alexander-Arnold was taking Spanish lessons in anticipation of moving to Madrid at the end of the season.
Alexander-Arnold confirmed he would be leaving Liverpool after the team wrapped up the Premier League title, and he was presented as a Madrid player on Thursday (June 12).
Issuing a statement in Spanish to get his presentation under way, Alexander-Arnold said: "Thank you to Florentino Perez and the club for this opportunity.
'This doesn't happen every day, it's a dream come true. I'm very happy and proud to be here. I want to show Real Madrid fans how I play.
"I do realize I'm signing for Real Madrid, the demands are high, but I'm going to give my all for the team and the fans. I want to show those fans how I play, I want to win many titles, I want to be a winner here and enjoy playing alongside the best players in the world. Hala Madrid."
Alexander-Arnold was presented as a Real Madrid player on Thursday
Alexander-Arnold was presented as a Real Madrid player on Thursday (Image: 2025 Real Madrid)
Alexander-Arnold was asked during a press conference a short time later how long he had been learning Spanish, and he responded "a few months."
Madrid's new No.12 claimed that Real Madrid was the only club he could have ever seen himself leaving Liverpool for as he explained the thought process behind his decision to exit his boyhood team.
"To be honest, it was never a question of where to go — it was whether to go or not to go," Alexander-Arnold said.
"What I've probably known for a long time is that if I was to leave Liverpool, it would only be for Real Madrid. That was the only club for me.
"Making that decision wasn't an easy decision, I'm not going to say it was easy, because I'd been there for so long and 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 I'm very excited about."