Trent Alexander-Arnold left Liverpool to sign for Real Madrid last summer, and the right-back has admitted that he can "understand" why Reds fans booed him on his return
Trent Alexander-Arnold during a Real Madrid training session.
Trent Alexander-Arnold during a Real Madrid training session.(Image: Federico Titone/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Former Liverpool star Trent Alexander-Arnold has admitted that he can "understand" why Reds fans booed him when he returned to Anfield with Real Madrid in the Champions League last season.
Alexander-Arnold departed a few weeks before his contract expired to sign for Xabi Alonso, but his first campaign in Spain didn't go to plan as he didn't win any silverware, and then wasn't selected to represent England at the World Cup. Real Madrid will be managed this season by Jose Mourinho.
"The booing and disappointment from Liverpool supporters is something I’m absolutely able to shoulder," Alexander-Arnold told the Mirror.
"I can understand it, in my own way. I heard a lot during that period that Liverpool fans didn’t want to be told how to feel or think, and I agree.
"But I hope one day there’ll be a degree of understanding about the decisions I wanted to make around my own life.
"It hurts because of how much I’ve put into the club over the course of 20 years and the sacrifices I made for the club during that period.
Real Madrid defender Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Real Madrid defender Trent Alexander-Arnold.(Image: Hesham Elsherif/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
"So of course it hurts, but I understand the disappointment. I even understand anger expressed through booing."
Liverpool fans felt let down that Alexander-Arnold wanted to try something new, when he could have gone on to become club captain after Virgil van Dijk.
Alexander-Arnold had previously stated that was his dream, but then decided that he wanted to move to Real Madrid instead.
"Since leaving, I’ve been back to Liverpool to visit family on a number of occasions," he continued.
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"I’ve bumped into lots of fellow Scousers and Reds when I’ve been on my travels. Not a single interaction I’ve had in person reflects the sort of stuff you get online or via social media, so that helps me disassociate it.
"This isn’t me saying everyone in Liverpool is fine with me leaving the club. Of course they aren’t. But that’s very different from the stuff that goes beyond the football. It’s why I don’t allow myself to get too down about it and I don’t dwell on it."
Liverpool.com says: In time, Alexander-Arnold may find that the fans' stance on him softens. After joining a European rival, however, he would have known what the reaction was going to be. It won't have come as a surprise.