Trent Alexander-Arnold looks set to sign for Real Madrid, which would mark the departure of a player who played a key role in Liverpool’s incredible battles with Manchester City over the years.
Alexander-Arnold pinpointed Manchester City’s ruthless winning streaks when having say his say on last season’s Premier League title race and he would have loved to have gone toe-to-toe with one of the best teams in the history of the game.
Previously, Alexander-Arnold claimed Manchester City’s passing was incomparable and he clearly knows how outstanding of a team Pep Guardiola’s men have been. However, Trent Alexander-Arnold also aimed a dig at City by telling FourFourTwo last year that their success means less than Liverpool’s due to the perceived financial disparity between both clubs.
“It’s difficult. You’re up against a machine that’s built to win, that’s the simplest way to describe City and their organisation. Looking back on this era, although they’ve won more titles than us and have probably been more successful, our trophies will mean more to us and our fanbase because of the situations at both clubs, financially. How both clubs have built their teams and the manner in which we’ve done it probably means more to our fans.”
Alexander-Arnold’s comments at the time were perhaps also made in an attempt to unsettle Manchester City as they were facing Liverpool just days later.
Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images
Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images
Real Madrid-bound Trent Alexander-Arnold’s Man City swipe hasn’t aged well
Chris Sutton slammed Alexander-Arnold’s dig at Manchester City and in the same season, the Sky Blues went on to win the league while the Reds finished third and only won the Carabao Cup.
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Even Sam Allardyce disagreed with Alexander-Arnold’s comments about City and instead, advised him not to sour a “great rivalry” between both clubs.
But just a year later, Alexander-Arnold is closing in on an agreement to sign for Real Madrid and is on the verge of leaving Liverpool, despite making an unprovoked claim about City.
🚨💣 Trent Alexander-Arnold and Real Madrid, closer and closer after story revealed 1 year ago.
The official contract proposal from Real has been sent to TAA and his camp.
Discussions underway on details of the deal; all parties involved CONFIDENT to get the agreement done. pic.twitter.com/jlXHEzP2MX
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) March 25, 2025
View Tweet
Los Blancos are one of the best and biggest clubs in the world but they are known to splash the cash themselves — having paid record-breaking fees to sign stars like Luis Figo, Zinedine Zidane, Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale themselves.
Considering Alexander-Arnold seemed clearly proud of how Liverpool have functioned, it is not the best look for him to be leaving his boyhood club and that too for on a possible free transfer to Real Madrid — who have been similarly ambitious to Manchester City in the transfer market over the years.
Perhaps for the Anfield faithful as well, the Englishman’s comments do not make for the best reading as he pledged his allegiance to the club and the fans but just a year later, he has basically changed his tune.
Why Erling Haaland has had the last laugh over Trent Alexander-Arnold
Manchester City have every reason to have a chuckle about Alexander-Arnold’s comments now.
A who who certainly may is Erling Haaland, who took a swipe at Alexander-Arnold for not winning the treble like he had at the Etihad Stadium, saying: “If he wants to say that, okay. I’ve been here one year and won the treble and it was quite a nice feeling. I don’t think he knows that feeling. That’s what I felt last season, it was quite nice.”
“They can talk as much as they want or we can talk as much as we want. I don’t know why he does that, but I don’t mind.”
In a sense, Haaland’s dig at Alexander-Arnold is set to ring true as perhaps the reason he could be planning to bid farewell to Liverpool is because he does not believe in their project anymore.