Trent Alexander Arnold left Liverpool in order to win silverware with Real Madrdi
Trent Alexander-Arnold made it clear he left Liverpool in order to win trophies with Real Madrid.
Trent Alexander-Arnold made it clear he left Liverpool in order to win trophies with Real Madrid.(Image: 2026 Getty Images)
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Real Madrid's defeat to Barcelona at the Nou Camp last night saw Hansi Flick's side crowned champions and leave Los Blancos without any silverware for the second season in a row. It's a bitter blow for former Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold who made it clear his move to the Spanish capital was to win silverware.
Real even agreed a £10m fee with the Reds to allow the academy graduate to leave Anfield early in order to be eligible to play in the Club World Cup in the United States. However, they were dumped out of the tournament by PSG in the semi-final stages of the tournament.
Los Blancos were among the favourites for La Liga and the Champions League title, but were left lagging some way behind Barcelona in the league and dumped out of Europe by Bayern Munich.
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Domestically, Real Madrid were beaten by arch-rivals Barcelona in the Supercopa de Espana final, and surprisingly lost to Albacete in the last 16 of the Copa del Rey.
It's been a miserable campaign for the club amid ongoing turmoil behind the scenes. There are question marks about Kylian Mbappe's future at the club, while Aurelien Tchouameni and Federico Valverde were involved in a dressing room bust up which saw the latter taken to hospital.
It's also been a disappointing campaign for Alexander-Arnold, who has made just 28 appearances this year, missing a large chunk of the season through injury.
Trent Alexander-Arnold plays during the match between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid CF, corresponding to week 35 of LaLiga EA Sports, at the Spotify Camp Nou in Barcelona, Spain, on May 10, 2026
It hasn't been a great first season at Real Madrid for Trent Alexander-Arnold(Image: Getty Images)
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Speaking about leaving Liverpool in order to win trophies at his Real Madrid unveiling, Alexander-Arnold said: "It wasn’t a question of whether to go or not. I always knew that if I ever left Liverpool, it would be to join Real Madrid. There came a time when I had to decide whether to leave or stay, and it wasn't easy.
"I'd been there for so long that it wasn't easy. There comes a time when you have to make a decision, and for me, this was the right one."
"I've been lucky to play for the biggest team in England and now I'm at the biggest in Spain. Both have won many trophies and dominated their leagues. It's an honour to represent both of them.
"At both clubs, you're expected to win and perform well; there are many similarities. At Liverpool, you were expected to win trophies and it's the same here. That's what's demanded of you. The fans are used to it and we have to deliver."
There are also doubts about Alexander-Arnold's own future in Spain, having been criticised for his display in the defeat to Barcelona.