Liverpool fans ‘to turn on Alexander-Arnold’ as Real Madrid transfer news emerges
Trent Alexander-Arnold has to decide if he can deal with his boyhood club’s fans turning on him if he leaves Liverpool, according to Ian Darke.
The TV commentator, speaking exclusively to Liverpool News, believes the academy graduate, who has gone on to lift seven major honours in what is approaching 350 appearances, must decide whether he can deal with the “hostility” which is brewing.
Darke compares Alexander-Arnold, born in West Derby like Steven Gerrard from Whiston, to the situation which faced the Anfield legend when he very nearly moved to Chelsea shortly after lifting the Champions League in 2005.
Alexander-Arnold could see Liverpool fans turn on him
Should Alexander-Arnold decide not to renew his contract with Liverpool, the belief for Darke is that the fanbase could turn their backs on him.
He describes Liverpool as a “very difficult club to leave”, especially for a local lad, and with very little opportunities to win more elsewhere than the platform with the Reds.
Real Madrid have been the leading club linked with his services, and Darke has said he would “respect” Alexander-Arnold if he moved on to the Bernabeu.
“I do think there’s a lot of boyhood pride in it, and also it’s a very difficult club to leave – as found by Steven Gerrard when Chelsea came in for him,” he explained.
“It’s that difficult thing on whether the city and fans would turn on him and regard him as someone who turned his back. If you’re with Liverpool, with a chance of winning on four fronts every season, it’s very hard to walk away from that.
“But I would respect him if he opted for a new challenge, especially at a club like Real Madrid. It depends on what his character and temperament is with regard to the bubbling hostility.”
Alexander-Arnold could end at Anfield on a high
While there remains no guarantee on which way Alexander-Arnold will decide, this is without doubt the first time the 26-year-old has hit a career crossroads.
With the bright lights of Madrid calling, this could be the most respectable opportunity to depart, and the ‘now or never’ feeling could be circling the right-back’s mind.
Gerrard wound up staying at Anfield another decade after initially agreeing to join Jose Mourinho at Chelsea, and Alexander-Arnold could face a similar note, the only difference being he is out of contract this summer.
He will be looking to end on a high if this is to be his final campaign at Anfield, with Liverpool firmly in the driving seat in the Premier League, favourites for the Champions League and finalists in the Carabao Cup.