I'll do well in Liverpool and go to Real TAA, a legendary meal...to take Owen's path over Gerrard
Mar 26, 2025
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Sports broadcasters 'Sky Sports', British daily 'Guardian', and transfer expert Fabrizio Romano all covered the news of Alexander-Arnold's imminent transfer to Real on the 25th (local time).
"Alexander-Arnold and Real have grown closer and closer since the story was released a year ago," Romano said. "The Real club's official proposal was delivered to Alexander-Arnold's camp. Discussions are ongoing on the details of the transaction, and all parties are confident they can enter into a contract," it said.
"Real's offer for Alexander-Arnold is consistent with the club's salary policy. It is not a superstar salary that is part of the Real Strategy, he said, adding that there was no suggestion of a 'mega salary' that circulated all the time.
Alexander-Arnold, a Liverpool youth native who joined the first team in 2016 at the age of 18, will expire in June. The player reportedly rejected Liverpool's continued offer to renew his contract until he entered the final season of his contract. Liverpool is in a situation where they have to send one of the best players in the squad for a fee-free 'free'.
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The fact that transferring from Liverpool to Real is a regular transfer route will not do much to dampen the anger of fans. In addition, Real have beaten Liverpool in two recent Champions League finals' according to the local mood surrounding Alexander-Arnold's move.
"If Stephen Gerrard resisted such temptations, some of his contemporaries gave in to them," he continued. "Real's aristocratic arrogance regularly took out Liverpool's best players." It's not just the beloved youth player. Jude Bellingham, who the Liverpool front wanted to recruit, also chose Santiago Bernabeu.
In addition, the transfer of Alexander-Arnold is often compared to the case of Steve McManaman, who left Liverpool for Real under the Boseman rule in 1999. McManaman was the most brilliant person in the late 1990s when Liverpool was in recession, but refused to renew his contract. The last few months spent in Liverpool were branded traitors. I didn't even receive the transfer fee.
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In an interview with the Observer in 2001, McManaman said "I didn't leave the team when I was very young. After playing for Liverpool for more than 10 years, I came to Madrid when I was 27. Liverpool is a very small city compared to Madrid."
Then in 2004, Liverpool wonderboy Michael Owen wore a Real uniform for just £8 million. Owen, who was 25 at the time, had difficulty adapting to the team, unlike McManaman. It was a daily routine to buy English newspapers from Madrid airport. Owen hoped to return to Liverpool as soon as possible, but faced opposition from Rafael Benitez, who eventually made an unfortunate move to Newcastle.
Owen said in a later interview that "Does Rafa want me? Would Kenny (Dalglish) want me? Would Brandon (Rodgers) want me? The situation prevented my transfer. I wasn't the player I used to be, and they didn't like me."
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'Guardian' concluded that like McManaman, Owen, and now Alexander-Arnold, Real's charm is too strong for Liverpool players to resist.
Real, who had always been thinking about the right-back position, had the top right-back next season. Like Kylian Mbappe, there was no separate transfer fee. It's the magic of Perez.
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
