Steve McManaman Gives Trent Alexander-Arnold Advice Amid Real Madrid Transfer Uncertainty

In 1999, Steve McManaman left Liverpool for Real Madrid, and now right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold is reportedly facing a similar decision, with a potential summer move to the Spanish club on the cards.

McManaman has emphasised that the choice to move to Real Madrid is ultimately a personal one for Alexander-Arnold, but he also shared his own positive experience, highlighting that he thoroughly enjoyed his time at the club after making the same move.

Alexander-Arnold, who was forced off due to injury during Saturday’s match against Aston Villa, is one of three Liverpool players whose contracts are set to expire at the end of this season. While Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah are both over 30, Alexander-Arnold, at 26, is entering his peak years.

When McManaman made his switch to Madrid at the end of the 1998-99 season, he was 27 years old and allowed his contract at Anfield to run out. He spent four seasons at the Bernabeu before returning to England to finish his career with Manchester City.

Unlike McManaman’s relatively smooth transition, Michael Owen, another former Liverpool player, had a much shorter stay at Real Madrid, leaving after just one season.

However, McManaman reminded Alexander-Arnold that the decision to move to Madrid would come with a variety of factors to weigh.

“Would I encourage it? I had the most wonderful time,” McManaman said on TNT Sports ahead of Liverpool’s Premier League match against Villa.

“I think if you speak to somebody else, Michael Owen was only there for a year, he had a great time but came back. I personally don’t know Trent’s situation. I think Liverpool want him to stay but it’s entirely a personal thing, isn’t it?

“Do Real Madrid want him? I think every club in the world would want him, someone of his calibre on a free… I think that goes without saying.

“But he might want to stay here – his family are here – or he might think ‘You know what, I’ve been here 20 years as a man and a boy, i’ll try somewhere new’.

“Because once he stays, if he does stay and sign a five year, six year deal here, he’s here for the future, isn’t he, he’s here for life.”

McManaman also humorously pointed out that Real Madrid have not been in the best form recently.

Under Carlo Ancelotti, the team has faced difficulties in defending their Champions League title, suffering defeats to Lille and AC Milan, leaving them in 18th place out of 36 teams in the new league phase.

Additionally, they were defeated 4-0 in the season’s first Clasico by Barcelona, who are currently leading the league. However, Real Madrid bounced back on Saturday, with Vinicius Junior netting a hat-trick in a 4-0 victory over Osasuna.

Despite the win, the match was overshadowed by an injury to Eder Militao, who was stretchered off in the 30th minute.

The centre-back, who had already missed much of the previous season due to a cruciate ligament injury, suffered another ACL tear and has now been ruled out for the rest of the season.

In other news, Liverpool Boss Arne Slot Makes Feelings Clear on Premier League Title Race After Manchester City Crisis