Wayne Rooney: ‘Trent Alexander-Arnold could now stay at Liverpool’ in shock twist
Wayne Rooney isn’t fully convinced that Trent Alexander-Arnold’s Liverpool career is over despite his move to Real Madrid looking set in stone.
Alexander-Arnold is in line to leave Anfield this summer after 21 years associated with the Reds; with his contract heading for expiry and Real Madrid swooping in to agree a deal in principle with the right-back.
Football Insider reported on 24 March that Alexander-Arnold is set to earn £12.5million per season at the Santiago Bernabeu as he prepares to sign a five-year deal, a £3.5m increase on his Liverpool salary.
While former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson also told Football Insider that Alexander-Arnold’s pre-contract at Madrid is already signed and sealed, his move is yet to be officially confirmed by either club.
As a result, Alexander-Arnold remains a one-club player for the time being, and Rooney isn’t convinced his exit from Liverpool is nailed-on despite the defender’s reluctance to sign a new contract at Anfield.
Wayne Rooney predicts Alexander-Arnold U-turn at Liverpool
Alexander-Arnold’s departure is already being prepared for by Liverpool, with Conor Bradley waiting in the wings to step in at right-back and Jeremie Frimpong also touted as a potential successor at Anfield.
However, writing in his column for BBC Sport (31 March), Rooney argued that although Alexander-Arnold looks certain to leave for Real Madrid this summer, there’s still plenty of time for new developments.
“Just because there are talks over a transfer does not mean it will happen”, Rooney said.
“It is well known that some [Manchester] United fans protested outside my house when they thought I was going to leave in 2010, but I’d agreed my new contract by then.
“Alexander-Arnold has not signed anything with Real [Madrid] yet and it would not surprise me if, even after all this speculation, he ends up staying at Anfield after all.
“A lot can happen before a contract is signed – as I know from experience.”
Alexander-Arnold lifeline a long shot for Liverpool
Although it’s unlikely that many Liverpool fans will take Rooney’s opinion to heed – nor would they for any ex-Everton and Manchester United player – there is still a possibility that Alexander-Arnold stays put.
Liverpool fans haven’t taken kindly to the prospect of Alexander-Arnold departing his boyhood club for nothing, and Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk also being out of contract isn’t helping in that regard.
| Player | Appearances | Starts | Goals | Assists | Yellow/Red Cards |
| Trent Alexander-Arnold | 368 | 332 | 26 | 91 | 48 |
Former Man United and Blackburn chief scout Mick Brown told Football Insider that Van Dijk could end up following Alexander-Arnold to Madrid, but at present, he looks more likely to stay than the right-back.
It remains to be seen which of the world-class trio will still be sporting Liverpool red next season, and despite Rooney still seeing a future for Alexander-Arnold at Anfield, few Reds fans will feel the same way.