"You guys won't be able to go to the Club World Cup anyway."
Liverpool of the English Premier League (PL) announced on the 5th (Korean time) that "Trent Alexander-Arnold is leaving the team due to the expiration of his contract. He decided to leave Liverpool when his contract ends on June 30." They added, "His dedication during this time has led him to conclude his association with Liverpool."
Alexander-Arnold, a product of Liverpool's academy representing the club, will see his contract expire this season. He joined the Liverpool youth team in 2004 and has never changed his jersey since. Since making his professional debut in 2016, he has recorded 349 appearances, 22 goals, and 87 assists.
Alexander-Arnold has excelled as Liverpool's starting right-back based on his tremendous kicking power. He has won titles in all competitions, including the Premier League (PL), the UEFA Champions League (UCL), and the FA Cup, while also experiencing the team's peak times. He continues to lead the team as vice-captain this season.
He has shown his loyalty to Liverpool on multiple occasions. After being appointed vice-captain of Liverpool in the summer of 2023, Alexander-Arnold stated, "My goal has always been to be the captain of Liverpool. Right now, I am part of that journey." Naturally, all Liverpool fans envisioned a future continued alongside Alexander-Arnold.
However, Alexander-Arnold has been slow to re-sign with Liverpool, causing frustration among fans. Despite his contract expiring in the summer of 2025, no new updates have emerged. Last October, he remarked, "Winning the Ballon d'Or is better than winning the UCL." As a result, tired Liverpool fans began to boo Alexander-Arnold, who has underperformed in matches.
Ultimately, the feared event has occurred. Alexander-Arnold is set to don the jersey of Real Madrid this coming summer. Media and journalists with significant credibility in Europe, including not only Relevo but also the so-called 'unofficial' British 'BBC,' the 'Daily Mail,' 'The Athletic,' and Fabrizio Romano, have confirmed this information.
According to Romano, Alexander-Arnold has always been Real Madrid's number one target. In the last January transfer window, Real Madrid offered Liverpool €25 million (approximately 39.6 billion won) as a transfer fee. This was effectively a warning. However, Liverpool rejected it and attempted to change Alexander-Arnold's mind but ultimately failed.
Recently, Spanish 'Todo Fichajes' reported that Liverpool had prepared a massive 80 million pound (approximately 154.5 billion won) offer to retain Arnold for five years. However, as indicated in articles published over a long period, Alexander-Arnold is heading to Real Madrid after leaving Liverpool.
As confirmed news was reported by several reputable media outlets, an official announcement followed. Liverpool's official website acknowledged the impending separation, and Arnold emphasized through his social media, "Now that I have spent 20 years at the club called Liverpool, it is time for me to leave here. This is the hardest decision I've ever made in my life. Thank you for your support. Even after I leave, I love this club."
Meanwhile, Real Madrid is preparing to negotiate with Liverpool regarding Arnold. Spanish 'Marca' reported, "Real will negotiate with Liverpool to take Arnold to the Club World Cup, separate from acquiring him as a free agent." They added, "Real will participate in the Club World Cup, but Liverpool will not. Thus, Real will request Liverpool to allow Arnold to go to the Club World Cup. If Liverpool permits, Real will pay some financial compensation."
British 'BBC' reported, "The transfer fee that Real is set to propose to Liverpool is £850,000 (approximately 1.5 billion won). Moreover, they are also considering covering Arnold's wages that Liverpool needs to pay." They noted, "Liverpool is also welcoming Real's proposal. It is likely that Alexander-Arnold's transfer could occur during the temporary transfer market from June 1 to June 10, due to participation in the Club World Cup."
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