Trent Alexander-Arnold is on the verge of a move to Real Madrid. The English full-back, who joined Liverpool at the age of 6 years old, has reportedly decided against renewing his contract and has instead decided to join Los Blancos on a free transfer this summer.
The news that the 26-year-old will depart his boyhood club in the summer was not received well at all by Liverpool fans. A video of a Liverpool supporter burning a shirt with Alexander-Arnold's name and number on the back even emerged on social media and went viral following the reports.
Rio Ferdinand has now spoken out and sent a message to Liverpool fans following backlash about the right-back's impending move.
Rio Ferdinand Defends Trent Alexander-Arnold After Backlash
His comments have caused a serious stir
Trent Alexander-Arnold applauding the Liverpool supporters
Ferdinand, speaking on his YouTube channel 'Rio Ferdinand Presents', has launched a passionate defence of Alexander-Arnold. He has argued that the club should take some responsibility for allowing him to leave and that Alexander-Arnold should be applauded, not berated.
“You should be saying thank you and good luck. Trent Alexander-Arnold, you didn't pay a penny for him. He came through your academy, he’s one of your own and he won it all,” he said. “This kid has been there, worn the shirt, been one of your best players, most productive players in one of the most successful periods in recent years.
Trent Alexander-Arnold's statistics for Liverpool
“And because he's choosing to go and leave the club, not for a rival, not for a team in the Premier League, he's going to the biggest club right now in the world, which is Real Madrid. You should be saying: ‘You know what, I'd love him to stay but well done’.
“You should be clapping him off and giving him a hero's welcome when he eventually comes back in 15 years, when he finishes his career. The club have to take some responsibility. They've allowed him to get to this point.
“When he was 18 months out, he should have told the club that he wanted to leave... rubbish. There are too many moving parts in this. He might not have known then where he wanted to go.
“If it was Real Madrid he wanted to go to only, 18 months ago they have got a right-back who's one of the best in the world. [Dani] Carvajal was flying, captain of his country, winning the Champions League, so the spot's not there for him.
“The situation might have been sped up because of Carvajal's injury. So the situation changes. They're not taking none of that into account. I just feel it's not all on Trent Alexander-Arnold.”
Ferdinand's comments have caused a stir, having attracted over 11k 'likes' and 1.1 million views on X (formerly Twitter). While Alexander-Arnold's exit has not yet been confirmed, it seems only a matter of time until the move is announced.