Trent Alexander-Arnold surprised Liverpool supporters today by speaking perfect Spanish during his official unveiling as a Real Madrid player, fueling speculation that he had been planning the move for months despite reports he was considering a contract extension at Anfield.
“It’s a dream come true. I’m very happy and proud to be here,” Alexander-Arnold declared in fluent Spanish. “I want to show Real Madrid fans how I play. I do realise I am signing for Real Madrid, the demands are high. I’m going to give my all for Real Madrid and the fans.”
The 26-year-old England international was initially expected to join Madrid as a free agent in July, but an agreement worth approximately £10 million was reached to expedite his arrival by a month, allowing him to participate in the Club World Cup under new manager Xabi Alonso.
Alexander-Arnold’s linguistic preparation appears to be a deliberate strategy to avoid the challenges faced by previous English stars at the Bernabéu. Fellow England international Jude Bellingham admitted struggling with Spanish after his move from Borussia Dortmund last year, while Gareth Bale’s reluctance to embrace the language contributed to his difficult relationship with the Spanish media.
“My biggest piece of advice: play the game at Real Madrid,” Bale had warned Bellingham in December 2023. “Because if you don’t play and you don’t do what the press wants, talk to them [in Spanish] — basically, be a puppet — you’re going to get a lot of stick.”
The right-back’s departure marks the end of an era at Liverpool, where he progressed through the academy to become one of the world’s most creative defenders, revolutionizing the right-back position under Jürgen Klopp. During his time at Anfield, Alexander-Arnold won every major trophy including the Premier League and Champions League, contributing over 80 assists in 311 appearances.
Liverpool have moved swiftly to replace their homegrown star, signing Jeremie Frimpong from Bayer Leverkusen and reportedly pursuing a £127 million deal for his teammate Florian Wirtz. The Reds’ new manager Arne Slot faces the challenging task of reimagining a team without one of its most influential players of the modern era.
For Madrid, Alexander-Arnold joins an illustrious list of English players to represent Los Blancos, including David Beckham, Michael Owen, Steve McManaman, and most recently, Bellingham.
