Jamie Carragher, a veteran of Liverpool, has provided a fresh theory as to why Trent Alexander-Arnold would have chosen to join Real Madrid rather than remain at Anfield. Earlier this week, multiple reports confirmed that the Englishman has reached an agreement to move to the Spanish capital for the upcoming season when his contract ends in the summer.
Numerous theories have been put up as to why the 26-year-old would be so eager to consider leaving his boyhood club, particularly after previously implying that he couldn’t envision his career outside of Merseyside. Carragher, though, thinks the defender’s choice to make the transfer might have been influenced by factors other than football.
Alexander-Arnold’s Madrid Move ‘Brand’ Motivated Claims Carragher
The pundit spent his entire career at Liverpool and believes that the player’s branding is important to him
Carragher recently discussed Alexander-Arnold’s departure on the Overlap’s Stick to Football podcast. He also talked about how a move to Madrid may boost the player’s personal “brand,” which he believes is a contributing factor in his decision to switch. Carragher cited an interview the Liverpool defender did earlier this season that would have supported his claim that similar remarks were made about David Beckham in 2003:
“I believe that Trent is a player who views himself as a brand, and many other players do the same these days. He was asked to choose between five choices in an interview he did on Sky Sports before Christmas: winning the Ballon d’Or, winning the Champions League with Liverpool, winning the World Cup with England, or captaining Liverpool. He choose to win the Ballon d’Or.
“He wanted to be the first full-back that won the Ballon d’Or, and there’s nothing wrong with having ambition, but that didn’t go down particularly well with Liverpool supporters.”
especially the fact that instead of letting his boyhood club profit from him, he has decided to go on a free. However, considering that Alexander-Arnold initially cost the team nothing, the 47-year-old stated that he wasn’t upset about this.
“It seems like there’s not one thing people are unhappy with – it’s leaving on a free or that he should have come out and told the club earlier,” Carragher said. “I don’t mind that he went on a free. In a perfect scenario, Liverpool would receive £70 million or £80 million for him to reinvest, but supporters cannot have it both ways.
“Also, when you’re a local player you don’t cost anything – Trent going on a free is like Virgil van Dijk leaving for £75m, we’d still break even.”
xz
