Anger exploded over the betrayal of 'homegrown talent' who has played for over 21 years. Liverpool fans burned the jersey of Trent Alexander-Arnold (27), who stabbed them in the back.
The British 'Daily Mail' reported on the 27th (Korean time) that 'a Liverpool fan burned Alexander-Arnold's jersey in a shocking protest against his imminent transfer to Real Madrid. Alexander-Arnold is close to joining Real Madrid this summer.'
Alexander-Arnold is one of the defenders Liverpool has boasted about. He has never changed his jersey since joining the Liverpool youth team in 2004. Since his professional debut in 2016, he has recorded 349 matches, scoring 22 goals and assisting 87.
Alexander-Arnold has served as Liverpool's starting right back based on his tremendous kicking ability. He has won all competitions, including the Premier League (PL), UEFA Champions League (UCL), and FA Cup, while also experiencing the peak years of the team. This season, he continues to lead the team as the vice-captain.
His loyalty to Liverpool has also been revealed several times. After being appointed vice-captain of Liverpool in the summer of 2023, Alexander-Arnold stated, 'My goal has always been to be the captain of Liverpool. Right now, I am part of that process.' Naturally, all Liverpool fans envisioned a future with Alexander-Arnold.
However, Alexander-Arnold has been hesitant to sign a new contract with Liverpool, stoking fans' frustrations. Although his contract expires in the summer of 2025, no news has surfaced. Last October, he mentioned, 'Winning the Ballon d'Or is better than winning the UCL.' With this, exhausted Liverpool fans began to boo Alexander-Arnold, who was underperforming in matches.
Ultimately, the worst fears came true. Alexander-Arnold is expected to wear the Real Madrid jersey as a free agent (FA) unless there are major surprises. Reputable European media and journalists, including the British 'BBC', Daily Mail, 'The Athletic', 'Sky Sports', and Fabrizio Romano, all reported that Alexander-Arnold is on the verge of reaching a contract agreement with Real Madrid.
Naturally, Liverpool fans cannot hide their feelings of betrayal. According to the Daily Mail, many fans are claiming that manager Arne Slot should exclude Alexander-Arnold from the team for the remainder of the season. One fan expressed frustration, saying, 'Make sure Alexander-Arnold doesn't play again. Don't even let him sit on the bench. Ensure he doesn't participate in farewells or championship celebrations. Just let him watch from home.'
There is even footage of Alexander-Arnold's jersey being burned. One fan filmed the act of setting fire to the back of Alexander-Arnold's jersey and shared it on social media. Liverpool fans are sending applause instead of ridicule upon seeing this.
As Alexander-Arnold leaves his childhood team without leaving behind a single penny in transfer fees, the fans' backlash is unavoidable. He is already receiving criticism as one of the greatest betrayers, surpassing Michael Owen and Philippe Coutinho.
The reason Alexander-Arnold chose Real Madrid seems to be his dream of winning the Ballon d'Or. He wants to be the first fullback to win the Ballon d'Or, so he thinks joining Real Madrid, with the highest potential for winning the UCL, is the best option.
Money was never the issue from the start. Alexander-Arnold is expected to sign a five-year contract with Real Madrid worth €15 million (approximately 23.7 billion won). According to Romano, Real Madrid clearly informed him to either accept their proposed terms or decide to stay at Liverpool. Alexander-Arnold's response was immediate acceptance.
Now, only the official announcement seems to be left. Romano expressed through the British 'Give Me Sport' that Alexander-Arnold's move to Real Madrid is 99% complete. Sky Sports explained, 'Real Madrid wants to bring in Alexander-Arnold in time for the club's World Cup opener on June 18.'
[Photo] ⓒGettyimages (Unauthorized reproduction and redistribution prohibited), Daily Mail, OneFootball, Fabrizio Romano, Sky Sports.
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