Trent Alexander-Arnold suggested that his memories of seeing former Manchester United stars David Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo join Real Madrid made him realize just how big the Spanish club is.
Beckham and Ronaldo joined Madrid in 2003 and 2009 respectively, with the latter in particular enjoying incredible success after moving to the Bernabeu.
Despite former Liverpool players like Michael Owen and Xabi Alonso making the switch to Madrid at similar times to Beckham and Ronaldo, Alexander-Arnold opted to name the ex-United stars when asked about his earliest memories of the Spanish club.
"I remember David Beckham playing there and that being a massive thing," Alexander-Arnold said. "I also then remember Cristiano, and I saw the way he was welcomed at the club. That was different to anything I'd ever seen before.
"I was still young then, but seeing probably the best player in the world at the time join the club as he did and be as successful as he did, all the trophies that came after that, the players that joined and the success that they had. It was a statement in my mind that Real Madrid is a very successful football club, they demand success."
Alexander-Arnold had already annoyed some Liverpool fans when he kicked off his presentation as a Madrid player by issuing a statement in Spanish.
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.
Alexander-Arnold poses with Real Madrid president Florentino Perez
Alexander-Arnold poses with Real Madrid president Florentino Perez (Image: 2025 Real Madrid)
"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 asked a short time later how long he had been learning Spanish, and he responded "a few months."
Madrid's new No.12 claimed that 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."