Liverpool are set to lose homegrown star Trent Alexander-Arnold to Real Madrid this summer, with reports revealing that the England international has signed off on a pre-contract deal to join Los Blancos on a free transfer. After months of speculation over his long-term future, this January saw him enter the final six months of his contract at Anfield, meaning that he was able to speak to clubs outside of the Premier League over a summer move. That now appears to have materialised, with Carlo Ancelotti's Madrid seemingly getting their man after a long-running pursuit.
But this story isn't a new one for Liverpool fans. The path trodden from Merseyside to Madrid is one that has been walked down before, and Alexander-Arnold will simply join the rest in making that switch. This article now looks at the five players who swapped the red of Liverpool for the white of Real Madrid, and how their careers panned out at the Santiago Bernabeu. Will Alexander-Arnold's own move to Madrid be a success or a failure like a couple of these players on this list?
Steve McManaman
Having come through the Liverpool academy, Steve McManaman made a total of 364 first-team appearances for his boyhood club, winning the FA Cup and Football League Cup as his only two trophies on Merseyside. Like Alexander-Arnold, McManaman also signed a pre-contract deal to sign with Real Madrid, and it's fair to say his debut season at the Santiago Bernabeu was eventful to say the least.
After seeing the manager that signed him Guus Hiddink dismissed, McManaman was part of a Madrid side in the 1999/2000 season that was undergoing big changes on and off the pitch. Having initially struggled with adaptation, the Englishman eventually rose to the occasion, and delivered on the biggest stage of them all in the Champions League final. He scored and took home the Man of the Match award in the 3-0 win over Valencia, and while injuries would blight the rest of his career at the club, he had already made a name for himself.
Michael Owen
Michael Owen's emergence onto the scene as one of the most devastating strikers in European football saw him terrify defenders in the Premier League year-in and year-out, culminating in him winning the Ballon d'Or in 2001. Despite injuries beginning to play a part, until his departure to Real Madrid in 2004, the former England star was the club's top-scorer in every season since 1998 and is among the greatest British footballers of the 2000s.
His £8m move to Spain saw him join the club in the middle of their 'Galacticos' era, but injuries and a lack of consistent form saw his minutes restricted. All in all, he managed just the one year at the club before leaving for the Premier League with Newcastle once more, but did bag 13 goals in La Liga alone.
Jerzy Dudek
Forever a cult hero at Liverpool for his performance in the penalty shoot-out against Milan in that triumphant Champions League final, Jerzy Dudek only fell out of favour at Anfield when Rafa Benitez brought in new number one Pepe Reina to the club for the 2005/2006 season.
Aged 34, the Pole would make the switch to Real Madrid, but only played two La Liga matches in the space of four years due to the presence of legendary goalkeeper Iker Casillas. Dudek would eventually retire from club football at the end of the 2010/2011 season, with his Madrid teammates giving him a guard of honour when he was substituted in the 77th minute of the club's 8-1 victory over Almeria.
Alvaro Arbeloa
Signed towards the end of the January transfer window in 2007, Alvaro Arbeloa made his first start as a Liverpool player in the Champions League against Barcelona, playing as a left-back up against Lionel Messi. The Spaniard would also make an appearance in the final few minutes of the final when the Reds lost to Milan. Having become a regular the following season, Arbeloa's time at Anfield is perhaps best remembered for his on-pitch clash with teammate Jamie Carragher during their game against West Brom.
The summer of 2009 would see the full-back make the £5m move to Real Madrid, and over a seven-year spell, would provide a versatile option for Los Blancos in playing at both right-back and left-back. All in all, he would make 233 appearances for the Spanish giants, and would win the Champions League twice.
Xabi Alonso
One of the greatest midfielders of his generation, Xabi Alonso would win the Champions League in his debut season at Anfield, and developed into the kind of play sides across Europe desperately wanted. After a successful five years at the club, he made the move to Real Madrid in a £30m deal, although reports had suggested at the time that Arsene Wenger had also wanted him at Arsenal.
At the Bernabeu, Alonso cemented his legacy as one of the best players in the world, and would win another Champions League title in the 2013/2014 campaign. The Spaniard's performances at international level were just as good, and he was an integral part of Spain's world domination that included the World Cup and two European Championships. Given what he achieved, there was no doubt Alonso's move to Madrid was an unqualified success.