Jamie Carragher has questioned Trent Alexander-Arnold's motive after reports emerged the Liverpool ace is close to joining Real Madrid on a free transfer. The right-back has played over 340 times for the Reds, having broken through the academy system as a teenager.
There isn't much Alexander-Arnold hasn't achieved in a Liverpool shirt, with the Merseyside-born ace having lifted seven major honours during his career so far. That includes both the 2019 Champions League and 2020 Premier League triumphs under former boss Jurgen Klopp, with another league title looking increasingly likely this season.
Questioning his motive, Carragher, who was speaking on the Stick to Football podcast, brought to you by Sky Bet, said: "I think Trent is a player who looks at himself almost like a brand, and that’s not just him, a lot of players do now. I go back to an interview he gave on Sky Sports before Christmas, where he was given five options on which he’d pick as the most important for you – captain of Liverpool, win the Champions League with Liverpool, win the World Cup with England, or win the Ballon d’Or – and he chose the Ballon d’or.
He wanted to be the first full-back that won the Ballon d’Or, and there’s nothing wrong with having ambition, but that didn’t go down particularly well with Liverpool supporters.”
Carragher, clearly frustrated by Alexander-Arnold's stance, stated: "Where I’m at is that, as a local player and a Liverpool fan, Liverpool are in a position where they’re competing for the league and a European Cup every year. So, if you’re a Liverpool fan and a local player, I’m just disappointed that he doesn’t think that this is it. I’m putting myself in his position, where I’d be thinking that we could go level with Manchester United in league trophies, I’ve got another seven or eight years at Liverpool and want to get three or four ahead of them, with a couple more European Cups.
“We always talk about rivalries and never think of it as European. In some ways, Real Madrid is a rival, and no one will catch them – they are the biggest and most famous team- but I’m desperate for Liverpool to get second on that list – AC Milan are on 7 [European titles]. If I was him, I’d be thinking that we’ve got a great opportunity to win the league this year and could do this and that and at the end of his time, put Liverpool in a position [to top others].”
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