Jamie Carragher has had his say on Trent Alexander-Arnold's expected move from Liverpool to Real Madrid
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Jamie Carragher has been talking Trent Alexander-Arnold on the Stick to Football podcast
Jamie Carragher has been talking Trent Alexander-Arnold on the Stick to Football podcast
Jamie Carragher has explained why he would be disappointed with Trent Alexander-Arnold if he decides to leave Liverpool and join Real Madrid on a free transfer. The Reds vice-captain is out of contract at the end of the season and looks set to move on when his deal expires.
The La Liga giants are long-term admirers of Alexander-Arnold, and, having seen an approach rejected by Liverpool ahead of the January transfer window, are now believed to be close to finalising a deal to sign the right-back on a Bosman transfer.
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The 26-year-old has come in for backlash from the Liverpool fanbase on social media with it now looking almost certain that he will be leaving his boyhood club - and despite the fact that the Reds are closing in on the Premier League title.
READ MORE: Liverpool could be without six players for Everton after two new injury scaresREAD MORE: Gary Neville sends £250m transfer warning to Liverpool as Arne Slot given 'hell of a thing'
Carragher insists he is not angry with Alexander-Arnold’s would-be departure on a free transfer. But admitted he is disappointed by the full-back choosing to depart when Liverpool are actually in a position of strength - pointing out his situation is very different to the likes of Steve McManaman and Michael Owen when they left the Reds.
“I always think an international break is a time where every club are getting things in order for the summer and speaking to agents,” Carragher said when speaking on the Stick to Football podcast, brought to you by Sky Bet. So, it was always going to blow up at some stage.
“People look at the reaction, but social media is so toxic – ‘He shouldn’t play for the club again’ or ‘Slot shouldn’t play him’ – people use that now as the barometer of the fan’s feelings, but it’s just a mad place (social media), it’s not what normal (fans think).
“It seems like there’s not one thing people are unhappy with – it’s leaving on a free or that he should have come out and told the club earlier or when Real Madrid put the bid in – people are angry for three or four different things.
“I’m not angry about him going on a free really. In an ideal world, Liverpool would get £70m or £80m for him to reinvest, but you can’t have it both ways as a supporter.
“If Liverpool sign someone on a free in the summer, we’d all be delighted, so does that mean that his former club should absolutely hate him? Also, when you’re a local player you don’t cost anything – Trent going on a free is like Virgil van Dijk leaving for £75m, we’d still break even.
“I’m not angry with him going on a free transfer. I’d have loved money to replace him if he moves on.
“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. Can we get 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 in terms of European Cups – they are the biggest and most famous team.
“But I’m desperate for Liverpool to get second on that list – AC Milan are on seven European Cups, Liverpool are on six.
“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).
“But that’s just me. I’m disappointed as a Liverpool fan. That’s the only thing I look at with it. Stevie (Gerrard) didn’t have that. McManaman didn’t have that.”
Meanwhile, Carragher also took aim at Real Madrid’s approach for Alexander-Arnold back in January, and brought up how supporters were unimpressed with the defender for previously admitting he would prioritise winning the Ballon d’Or over captaining Liverpool or winning another Champions League with the Reds.
“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,” he said. “I go back to an interview he gave on Sky Sports before Christmas and he said something that didn’t go down particularly well with Liverpool supporters.
“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 and wanting to be the best you can be, but that didn’t go down particularly well with Liverpool supporters.
“My problem has been don’t think about yourself when your team is going for the league. We’ve been players. You have things with contracts and clubs. Things go on and clubs aren’t always angels and we all know that.
“But my big thing has been don’t put yourself before the team or the club this season. This is too important, Slot’s first season, going for the league.
“I was upset with Trent then, Real Madrid putting a bid in, it’s like everyone knows Liverpool aren’t going to sell him now. They’re going for the league. We all know that.
“Let’s not pretend and have this big dance about it. ‘Oh, Real Madrid offered you £20m. He went for free but we offered you £20m’. Trent and his people would have known Real Madrid were putting a bid in.
“My thing was stop all the nonsense. If you want to go for free, fine, I’ve got no problem with that. I’m just disappointed because Liverpool are in a great position in terms of being successful in the future.
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“Michael Owen didn’t have that, Stevie never had that, McManaman never had the situation Liverpool are where they’re seen as almost the best team right this second and have been along with City for the last few years.
“We were desperate to be winning what you (Gary Neville and Roy Keane) were winning, all the leagues. McManaman had never played in the Champions League before or Michael Owen, are we ever going to win the league or European Cup?”