Trent Alexander-Arnold is reportedly no longer wanted at Real Madrid after Jurgen Klopp had warned such transfers don't always go to plan
Jurgen Klopp's past transfer comments have come back to haunt Trent Alexander-Arnold(Image: Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)View 3 Images
Trent Alexander-Arnold may be wishing he had heeded Jurgen Klopp's words following his swift slip from from grace at Real Madrid. The England full-back is reportedly no longer wanted at the Bernabeu, less than a year after leaving Liverpool in a controversial transfer.
Alexander-Arnold, 27, joined Real last summer in a £10million move with lofty visions of the direction in which his career was heading. However, the reality has been far more bleak as the club fights to keep alive its title prospects this season, with Alexander-Arnold enduring several injury setbacks and registering just one assist in 11 appearances this term.
Soon after the departure of Anfield icon Xabi Alonso, another former Red stepped in to take his place in Alvaro Arbeloa. However, it's understood the former Spain defender has informed Alexander-Arnold he can leave the capital.
The unfortunate development brings to mind Klopp's caution to Philippe Coutinho when he left the club eight years ago. Coutinho established himself as a legend-in-the-making on Merseyside but joined Barcelona in a transfer potentially worth £142m back in January 2018.
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That's despite warnings from his former manager, who said he risked becoming just another piece of the furniture if he joined another European heavyweight. And his forecast proved accurate as Coutinho quickly fell from greatness at Barca before eventually returning to the Premier League with Aston Villa four years later.
"I told him [Coutinho] to stay here and they will end up building a statue in your honour," said Klopp at the time. "Go somewhere else, to Barcelona, to Bayern Munich, to Real Madrid, and you will be just another player. Here you can be something more."
Klopp would have undoubtedly urged Alexander-Arnold to stay at Liverpool if he remained in charge(Image: PA)View 3 Images
Years later, history is repeating itself as Alexander-Arnold ignored Liverpool's lucrative offers to extend his stay in favour of a move abroad. His decision was derided by many among the Liverpool fanbase and it now looks as though his Real tenure may end being an incredibly short one.
It wasn't long ago the England defender was targeting Ballon d'Or honours and wanted to make history by clinching the individual gong. Fast forward to today, however, and he's way off challenging for such accolades in the wake of his Real demise.
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"I believe I can," Alexander-Arnold told Sky Sports in 2024 when discussing his chances of winning the prestigious award. "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 doesn't matter how many trophies you win, or how many medals you've got. It matters what you give to the game and if you reach your full potential."
Alexander-Arnold hasn't played in any of Real's last six league games due to his latest injury setback(Image: Getty Images)View 3 Images
A certain amount of the player's dip in Spain has been out of his hands given the injury issues he's encountered. However, it could have been predicted that a club like Real wouldn't have patience to abide such setbacks, while Liverpool would likely have afforded the player a lot more time to recover as needed.
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As a result, Alexander-Arnold has been left eating his words to an extent as his personal prospects have plummeted. And Klopp, who managed the player to Champions League and Premier League glory at Anfield, may have seen such a development coming a mile off.