Darwin Nunez jokes with Trent Alexander-Arnold about Real Madrid rumors on pre-season return.
Trent Alexander-Arnold has been linked with a move to Real Madrid throughout the summer, catching the attention of his Liverpool teammates. The English full-back has returned to his team after a longer summer break following the European Championship.
During the tournament, Alexander-Arnold lost his spot in the starting XI as England reached the final but fell short against Spain. He was among the six players who returned to the AXA Training Centre on Sunday as Liverpool continued their pre-season preparations.
With just a year remaining on his contract at Anfield, there have been rumors about his interest in a move to the Bernabeu. Darwin Nunez took the opportunity to tease Alexander-Arnold about the rumors as they walked through the facility with Luis Diaz, saying, “Y el Real Madrid? Chao!” which means “and Real Madrid? Bye!”
The moment was captured on camera and enjoyed by all three players. Liverpool is confident that Alexander-Arnold will sign a new contract to extend his stay at the club.
New manager Arne Slot commented on the contract situation, saying it’s a familiar topic and that contract discussions aren’t a focus at the moment but efforts will continue.
Alexander-Arnold spent part of his summer break with close friend Jude Bellingham, a Madrid midfielder. Despite hopes that Alexander-Arnold might persuade Bellingham to join Liverpool before his move to Madrid, this did not happen. Now, with Alexander-Arnold’s future uncertain and Bellingham settled, they were recently seen together in LA and enjoying a meal at Nobu Malibu.
An agreement could potentially be reached as early as January since Alexander-Arnold’s contract expires in a year, allowing pre-contract negotiations a few months prior to expiry. If he were to move, it would not be the first major free transfer for Madrid, following Kylian Mbappe’s move from PSG this summer.
Alexander-Arnold is a key player for Liverpool and a product of their academy. With 310 appearances, 19 goals, and 81 assists, he has won multiple trophies including the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup, League Cup, Club World Cup, and Super Cup.