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What Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold once said about Barcelona may surprise many ahead of Real Madrid transfer

Mehdi Gokal

Mon 5 May 2025 16:40, UK

Trent Alexander-Arnold is set to leave Liverpool at the end of the season.

The 26-year-old confirmed the news today through a post on his social media, announcing that he will depart his boyhood club on a free transfer this summer.

Liverpool supporters have criticised Trent for the manner in which he is leaving, as the Reds are set to lose him for nothing.

Real Madrid are expected to be his destination with Trent Alexander-Arnold already agreeing a deal with Madrid a few months ago.

But his move to the Spanish capital might annoy more than just Liverpool fans.

Liverpool star Trent Alexander-Arnold’s comments about Barcelona in 2021

As Alexander-Arnold prepares for a move to Real Madrid, his 2021 comments about Barcelona have resurfaced which are expected to annoy some Madrid fans.

When asked which team he would support if not Liverpool, he openly expressed his admiration for Barcelona, revealing that he considered them his ‘favourite other team’, stating that they shared many of the same values as the Merseyside club.

Speaking to Britsh GQ, he said: “I’d say my favourite other team would be Barcelona. I feel as though they’ve got, kind of, the same values and beliefs as Liverpool.

“They like to bring players through their academy. I grew up watching [Lionel] Messi in that special Barcelona team with Iniesta, Xavi, [Thierry] Henry, [Samuel] Eto’o.”

Trent Alexander-Arnold will join an exclusive list of English players to play for join Real Madrid

A move to Real Madrid will see him become just the third English player to leave Liverpool for Real Madrid, following in the footsteps of Michael Owen and Steve McManaman.

He will also be only the sixth English player to play for the Spanish giants, joining the ranks of Laurie Cunningham, David Beckham, Michael Owen, and Jude Bellingham.

However, he is not the first to make the move from Liverpool to Real Madrid in recent history. Alongside Michael Owen, both Xabi Alonso and Alvaro Arbeloa also made the switch from Merseyside to Madrid.

The Liverpool right-back gave twenty years to the club and lived his dream as he helped his side win the first Premier League title in thirty years and then won it again this season.

During his time at Anfield, he made 352 appearances for the first team, scoring 23 goals and providing 92 assists, etching his name in Premier League history as the defender with the most assists.