Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has weighed in on reports linking vice-captain Trent Alexander-Arnold with a free transfer to Real Madrid this summer.
Speaking in a press conference, Slot addressed the speculation head-on, expressing his disappointment:
“All I can say is that he betrayed us. Leaving Liverpool for Real Madrid because of what happened is very immature and childish, but it’s his decision. He’s going to regret it.”
Despite the strong words, Slot also emphasized that Alexander-Arnold remains fully committed to Liverpool for now.
“I can tell you that he’s playing on Sunday, and hopefully, he delivers the performances he has for the last six months. He played an incredible game against West Ham, and I see him every day in training, working his ae off. He’s fully committed to us.”**
With the right-back’s contract set to expire this summer, speculation has been rampant about his future. However, Slot insisted that external talks haven’t affected the team.
“If media speculation destabilized players, we’d have had a problem for the past six months. At the biggest clubs in the world, people talk about you all year round.”
Liverpool’s Stance on Alexander-Arnold’s Future
The club remains hopeful that he will renew his contract, but former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy reinforced that no one is irreplaceable, citing past player departures that Liverpool successfully overcame.
With the summer transfer window approaching, Alexander-Arnold’s next move remains uncertain. Will he extend his Anfield legacy, or will he make the switch to Madrid? His performances in the coming weeks could offer more clues.
