Trent Alexander-Arnold could be set to follow in the footsteps of Michael Owen by leaving Liverpool for Real Madrid, and the former striker says he would be open to talking to the 26-year-old
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Michael Owen made the move from Liverpool to Real Madrid
Michael Owen made the move from Liverpool to Real Madrid
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Michael Owen says he would be willing to speak to Trent Alexander-Arnold about a potential move to Real Madrid. The former Liverpool striker famously swapped Anfield for the Santiago Bernabeu in 2004.
Owen spent just one year in Spain, scoring 16 goals in 46 games. The 45-year-old joined Newcastle United in 2005 but has since revealed that he wanted a return to Liverpool – something that never came to fruition.
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Having donned the Real Madrid shirt himself after opting to leave Liverpool following intense speculation, Owen is acquainted with the complexities of such a high-profile transfer – like Alexander-Arnold is beginning to face. The 26-year-old right-back is inching towards the final months of his Anfield contract, making him available on a free transfer in the summer.
Speaking exclusively to the Liverpool ECHO in December 2024, Owen said: "Would I be open for a chat? Of course, if he reached out for me, yeah. I have lots of people that I speak to. I work in television, I'm interviewing people all the time.
Trent Alexander-Arnold
Trent Alexander-Arnold's Liverpool contract expires in June 2024
"I'm covering games, I'm in and around places and TV studios. I'm always chatting to people and people ask for advice and things like that. If Trent called me then of course I would."
Owen is of the opinion that there's no definitive right or wrong decision for Alexander-Arnold. He added: "There's no good or bad decision really. The only good or bad decision is the after time, in 10 years.
"That's the only reason you'll ever say it is a good or bad decision. Whereas when you live it, it's that way. I decided that at the time and I can't change it. From Trent's point of view, he'll make his decision based on all the facts in front of him, and that will be the right thing for him at this time.
"That's what he'll have to live with forever, and I'm sure he'll be comfortable with that. If other people have this opinion in the future, as I say, these after-timers, then, whatever. Just whatever. It doesn't matter."
According to The Athletic, Real Madrid are working to wrap up a deal for Alexander-Arnold. The report claims Los Blancos must inform Liverpool if and when a pre-contract agreement has been reached – but that's not happened yet.
It's said that the Spanish giants have been monitoring the Englishman for two years now. The Athletic add that Real have been doing 'everything in their power' since January to convince Alexander-Arnold to join.
As has always been the case, the Reds don't comment publicly on contract negotiations, while when approached for comment by the ECHO, a Real Madrid spokesperson said: “We never comment on players that are not ours.”