What the ECHO spotted during former Liverpool vice-captain Trent Alexander-Arnold's unveiling as a Real Madrid player
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MADRID, SPAIN - JUNE 12: (EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE) Trent Alexander-Arnold poses with a shirt as he is unveiled as a Real Madrid player at Valdebebas training ground on June 12, 2025 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Pedro Castillo/Real Madrid via Getty Images)
Trent Alexander-Arnold has been unveiled as a Real Madrid player. The former Reds vice-captain was presented in Spain on Thursday after completing his £8.4m move to the Bernabeu at the end of last month.
The England international decided against signing a new contract with his boyhood club in his favour of a new challenge at the Bernabeu. And while his contract was due to expire this summer, Real Madrid agreed a deal worth £10m to Liverpool (including the player’s wages for the final months of his Anfield) for the defender to be released from the final month of his Reds deal.
Alexander-Arnold will now represent Real Madrid at this summer’s inaugural, expanded World Cup in the United States.
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Ahead of the tournament, the defender was unveiled at Real Madrid City prior to his maiden press conference.
With his family and girlfriend, Estelle Behnke, also in attendance, here’s what the ECHO spotted during Alexander-Arnold’s unveiling…
New number, who dis?
Alexander-Arnold posed with his new shirt ahead of being officially unveiled, as it was confirmed he would wear the number 12 jersey at the Bernabeu.
But that is not the only change. The full-back will now also go by just ‘Trent’ on the back of his shirt.
Trent’s mum in tears
Ahead of Real Madrid president Florentino Perez and Alexander-Arnold both addressing the gathered crowd, a video compilation of the full-back’s career to date was played.
Starting with clips from his days in the Liverpool academy, it also included highlights for both Liverpool and England.
Alexander-Arnold’s mum, Dianne Alexander, was visibly emotional during the compilation as she was spotted wiping away tears.
But she was also left very impressed by some of her son’s highlights, and was seen ‘ooooing’ at one particularly impressive goalline clearance against West Ham United.
Corner taken quickly
Real Madrid’s compilation video did set a few tongues wagging, given the selection of some of the clips they included.
Unsurprisingly, his quickly-taken corner assist against Barcelona in the Champions League semi-finals in 2019 was one such clip. While it is one of the highlights of Alexander-Arnold’s Liverpool career, Real Madrid likely took greater satisfaction in it given their bitter rivalry with the Catalans.
Meanwhile, footage of the England international celebrating an international goal with Jude Bellingham - his new Real Madrid team-mate - and embracing Reds legend Xabi Alonso - his new Real Madrid manager - after Liverpool’s Champions League victory over Bayer Leverkusen this season were also included.
Famous faces
Alexander-Arnold wasn’t the only former Liverpool right-back in the room in Madrid. Alvaro Arbeloa was also present for the Scouser’s unveiling.
The Spaniard, who left the Reds to return to Real Madrid in the summer of 2009, is now the Castilla manager at the Bernabeu.
Arbeloa was sat next to Real Madrid legend Roberto Carlos, who is now an ambassador of the club. The Brazilian is a player Alexander-Arnold has admitted he grew up idolising in the past, while the pair recently posed for pictures together at the Spanish GP in Barcelona.
Spanish lessons
When taking to the mic to address the crowd, Alexander-Arnold stunned onlookers by giving his welcome message in fluent Spanish.
He said: "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 realise I am signing for Real Madrid, the demands are high.
“I'm going to give my all for Real Madrid and the fans. I want to win many titles. I want to be a winner here and playing alongside the best players in the world. Hala Madrid."
Those present in the room, including Perez, were clearly very impressed by Alexander-Arnold’s Spanish skills - which will no doubt go down well with the club’s supporters.
At his press conference, he later revealed he had only been taking Spanish lessons for a few months.
However, that did not stop Liverpool supporters from speculating how long Alexander-Arnold had been learning the language and how long his move to Real Madrid had really been in the pipeline.