Alexander-Arnold, Real, Liverpool and the power of legacy.
Alexander-Arnold, Real, Liverpool and the power of legacy.
John Barnes was so besotted with all-white strips in his teenage years, and during his time at Watford, that he bought Real Madrid’s kit to see how he looked in it. During his successful years at Liverpool, Barnes had the chance to wear the strip professionally in 1990, when John Toshack wanted to sign him for Real, and 1992 when his Anfield contract was close to expiring.
As well as the white strip, Barnes was attracted to the new challenge of playing and living abroad, plus in 1990 he would have been involved in European competition during a period English clubs were banned following Heysel. Barnes decided to stay on Merseyside because he loved Liverpool, the club and the people. Also, in June 1992, Barnes tore his Achilles while on England duty in Helsinki, lessening other clubs’ interest. He says he never regretted remaining at Liverpool, changing his game to a more central, less explosive role. He’s a club legend. Jamie Carragher, echoing many others, has Barnes in his all-time Liverpool XI. His legacy is undoubted.
Which brings us to another revered Liverpool player, Trent Alexander-Arnold, currently linked to a Real move. First of all, it’s strange that the contract situation of such a high-profile, important player has not yet been addressed. Whether the hesitation is on the part of the owners or the player is unclear. FSG must want him to stay. They would be mad to let a beloved, home-grown talent leave, especially on a free.
Liverpool have Conor Bradley as a defensive understudy but Alexander-Arnold brings that phenomenal passing range, and that ability to drive forward with the ball as he demonstrated vividly for Luis Diaz’s second against Bournemouth. He also offers a dead-ball threat.
It would be a dent in the credibility of Arne Slot’s nascent managerial reign if Alexander-Arnold left. Slot would carry on, Liverpool would walk on, but it would still be a blow. Encouragingly for Liverpool fans, Alexander-Arnold spoke articulately over the weekend about how he could improve his defensive game under Slot, analysing clips. He also spoke wistfully of his hunger for trophies.
Which brings us to Real. The pros are obvious. Alexander-Arnold would have more chance of winning trophies, an admirable and stated desire of his. Real need him with 32-year-old Dani Carvajal requiring replacing at some point. He brings that supreme passing range that would exploit the pace and intelligent runs of Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr. He would be with his friend Jude Bellingham, and anyone who has watched the pair warm up in England training know the strength of their bond. He’d be playing in the best stadium in the world. So many attractions.