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Jamie Carragher says he is “disappointed” that Trent Alexander-Arnold wants to leave Liverpool, and suggested his reported move to Real Madrid is to boost his “brand”.
Reports have emerged this week that the Reds right-back is keen to join Real when his contract expires this summer, with some even suggesting the Anfield hero has already agreed a five-year deal to move to the Bernabeu.
The news has not gone down well with fans, who have criticised the Liverpool-born defender for wanting to depart the club as well as the manner of his exit, which is set to see him leave the club for free.
Carragher ‘disappointed’ in Trent
And now pundit and former player Carragher, who spent his entire career at Anfield, has weighed in on the situation, with the 47-year-old saying he is disappointed that Alexander-Arnold feels he has to look elsewhere to compete for the biggest prizes.
He said on the Stick to Football Podcast: “Where I’m at is that as a local player and a Liverpool fan, Liverpool are in a position where they’re competing for the league and a European Cup every year.
“So, if you’re a Liverpool fan and a local player, I’m just disappointed that he doesn’t think that this is it.
“I’m putting myself in his position where I’d be thinking that we could go level with Manchester United in league trophies, I’ve got another seven or eight years at Liverpool and want to get three or four ahead of them, with a couple more European Cups.”
Carragher: Real move to boost Trent’s brand
Alexander-Arnold has played a key role as Liverpool look set to win the Premier League under Arne Slot this season but has spoken of his desire to win the Ballon d’Or in the past.
And Carragher believes the 26-year-old wants to move to the Spanish giants in order to build his personal following.
“I think Trent is a player who looks at himself almost like a brand, and that’s not just him, a lot of players do now,’ he explained.
“I go back to an interview he gave on Sky Sports before Christmas, where he was given five options on which he’d pick as the most important for you – captain of Liverpool, win the Champions League with Liverpool, win the World Cup with England, or win the Ballon d’Or – and he chose the Ballon d’or.
“He wanted to be the first full-back that won the Ballon d’Or, and there’s nothing wrong with having ambition, but that didn’t go down particularly well with Liverpool supporters.”
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Carragher: Reaction has been ‘toxic’
Carragher said he understands the negative reaction to the news Alexander-Arnold wants to leave but insists moves like this are part and parcel of the game.
“It seems like there’s not one thing people are unhappy with – it’s leaving on a free or that he should have come out and told the club earlier – people are angry for three or four different things,’ Carragher added.
“I’m not angry about him going on a free. In an ideal world, Liverpool would get £70million or £80m for him to reinvest, but you can’t have it both ways as a supporter.
“If Liverpool sign someone on a free in the summer, we’d all be delighted, so does that mean that his former club should absolutely hate him?
“Also, when you’re a local player you don’t cost anything – Trent going on a free is like Virgil van Dijk leaving for £75m, we’d still break even.”