"Are we going to lose all three of our top players to free agency?".
The British 'Daily Mail' reported on the 27th (Korea time) that "a Liverpool fan burned his jersey in a shocking protest against Alexander-Arnold, who is close to transferring to Real Madrid. Alexander-Arnold is nearing a move to Real Madrid this summer."
Alexander-Arnold is one of the defenders that Liverpool has boasted about. He has never changed jerseys since joining the Liverpool youth team in 2004. Since making his professional debut in 2016, he has recorded 22 goals and 87 assists in a total of 349 matches.
Alexander-Arnold has served as Liverpool's main right-back, showcasing his remarkable kicking ability. He has won titles in every competition, including the Premier League (PL), the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) Champions League (UCL), and the FA Cup, while also experiencing the team's golden age. This season, he is leading the team as vice-captain.
His loyalty to Liverpool has been revealed on multiple occasions. 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. Currently, I am part of that process." Naturally, all Liverpool fans envisioned a future with Alexander-Arnold.
However, Alexander-Arnold has been slow to sign a new contract with Liverpool, frustrating fans. Despite his current contract expiring in the summer of 2025, there has been no new news. Last October, he remarked, "Winning the Ballon d'Or is better than winning the UCL." Disappointed Liverpool fans began to boo him during matches.
Eventually, the worst fears materialized. Alexander-Arnold is set to wear a Real Madrid jersey as a free agent (FA) unless there are significant changes. Reputable media outlets in Europe, including the British 'BBC', the Daily Mail, 'The Athletic', and 'Sky Sports', along with journalist Fabrizio Romano, reported that Alexander-Arnold is in the process of finalizing a contract with Real Madrid.
Naturally, Liverpool fans are unable to hide their feelings of betrayal. According to the Daily Mail, many fans are arguing that coach Arne Slot should exclude Alexander-Arnold from the team for the remainder of the season. One fan expressed, "Don't let Alexander-Arnold play again. Don't even let him sit on the bench. Make sure he doesn't attend farewell or championship celebration events. Just let him watch from home."
There was even footage of Alexander-Arnold's jersey being burned. A fan filmed himself setting fire to the back of Alexander-Arnold's jersey and shared it on social media. In response, Liverpool fans are not only upset but are also applauding.
Since Alexander-Arnold is leaving without leaving a transfer fee, fans' backlash is unavoidable. He is already being labeled as the 'most notorious betrayer' surpassing Michael Owen and Philippe Coutinho. It seems that the reason Alexander-Arnold chose Real Madrid relates to his dream of winning the Ballon d'Or. He aims to be the first full-back to win the Ballon d'Or, which is why he wants to join Real Madrid, a team with the highest chances of winning the UCL.
Money was not an issue from the start. Alexander-Arnold is expected to sign a five-year deal worth 15 million euros (approximately 23.7 billion won) with Real Madrid. According to Romano, Real Madrid clearly informed him to either accept their proposed terms or remain at Liverpool. Alexander-Arnold's response was immediate acceptance.
Including Arnold's departure, there are concerns about a series of departures for Liverpool ahead of next season. Ace Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk have contracts ending at the end of this season, but there has been no agreement on new contracts yet. Observers speculate that more transfer news will arise after Arnold's move to Real Madrid.
Gary Neville pointed out that the continuous departures of players are an issue for Liverpool's management. Former Liverpool player and commentator Jamie Carragher countered Neville's opinion by stating, "The club did not lack intention. Contracts have not progressed well due to confusion following the departure of manager Jurgen Klopp."
The British 'TBR Football' noted, "Carragher's words are not entirely incorrect. Changes in the club's structure have negatively impacted contract renewals. However, the ultimate responsibility lies with the club's ownership. Even after the departure of the manager and the Director General, they should have managed to retain the core three players of the team."
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