Trent Alexander-Arnold is already a Liverpool legend and one of the best creative players in the world… it’s a crying shame English football has never fully appreciated him, writes OLIVER HOLT

A move to Madrid would not diminish him. It would turn him into the superstar he should be here. Dani Carvajal, Madrid’s current right back, has a serious knee injury and will turn 33 in a couple of weeks, too. Alexander-Arnold would be the perfect replacement.

David Beckham (2003-07)

He is a constant in the top five ball-playing crowd pleasers in the Premier League, players who see things others cannot. He is in that company with Cole Palmer, Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and James Maddison.

Jonathan Woodgate (04-07)

Whatever may have been going on behind the scenes, as Alexander-Arnold’s contract ticks down towards its conclusion at Liverpool, it is his suitors at Real Madrid that have broken cover and fired the first salvo.

Signed from Liverpool for £8million during the Galacticos era, but was unable to force Ronaldo or Raul out of the side and left after one season. Did manage 16 goals in 45 games — the league’s highest goals-per-minute ratio that term — but time in Spain was largely forgettable.

Marca is widely seen as a mouthpiece for Real Madrid and a tool for the club in its transfer negotiations. Its claims were met with denials that Alexander- Arnold had told Liverpool any such thing.

High-profile exit from Manchester United led him to the door of Los Blancos, where he joined ‘Galacticos’ Ronaldo, Zinedine Zidane, Luis Figo, Roberto Carlos and Raul. He left four years later with a solitary La Liga title, a Spanish Cup and no European crowns.

Welshman joined Madrid from Tottenham for a then-world record fee of £85million and went on to win four Champions Leagues, one La Liga, one Copa del Rey, two Spanish Super Cups and three European Super Cups over nine years. Bale scored in three Champions League finals, including two off the bench against Liverpool in 2018, the first an incredible bicycle-kick. Never really won over the fans, but his trophy cabinet speaks for itself.

If he stays at Liverpool beyond that, English football will be better for it. If he goes to the Bernabeu, it may be worth reflecting that too many did not appreciate his talent until it was too late.

It is an inescapable fact that English football fans talk far more about Alexander-Arnold’s supposed vulnerabilities as a defender than the reality that he is one of the best creative talents in the world.

There has been more focus on his supposed defensive vulnerabilities than his qualities

It is a privilege to watch him play in this country and if he goes to La Liga, it will strengthen Spanish football and weaken the English game. He is a rare talent and the Premier League would be poorer without him.

It is a culture war and a propaganda war. It is a battle to avoid blame. It is a struggle to preserve allegiances and restate tribal loyalties while also exercising the right to freedom of movement and the embrace of a new challenge. That is often the way of the modern transfer saga.

Alexander-Arnold and Palmer, along with Bellingham, should be the heartbeat of every England team for the next ten years. Yet a majority of England supporters still remain bizarrely lukewarm in their attitude towards Liverpool’s most impressive of right backs.

Here is something else that is worth stating, something every Liverpool fan and every neutral who loves the game also knows — Alexander-Arnold’s signature is worth fighting for. He is the kind of player who is worth the admission fee on his own.

Jude Bellingham (2023-present)

Despite his ability, Alexander-Arnold may be more appreciated if he moves to Spain

It is partly for that reason that I hope Alexander-Arnold signs a new contract at Liverpool, remains at the club for the rest of his career, assumes the captaincy whenever Virgil van Dijk leaves and cements his status as one of the legends of the club.

First Brit to sign for Real when he signed from West Brom in 1979. Went on to win a league and cup double and his 44 appearances brought 21 goals.

A superb passer, Alexander-Arnold should be a key player for England for the next ten years

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