Trent Alexander-Arnold’s blockbuster move from Liverpool to Real Madrid last summer is still causing a stir, and the England star has now hinted that his mind was made up long before he left Anfield.
The right-back’s contract situation was a major talking point throughout last season, with reports claiming he rejected several new offers from Liverpool as he allegedly held out for better terms. Despite the club’s efforts, rumours of a Real Madrid switch never went away, and many fans suspected Trent was intentionally running down his deal to leave on a free.
Meanwhile, Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk regularly addressed their own contract situations in the media, but Trent remained noticeably silent — something that frustrated supporters who felt their homegrown star was preparing his exit behind the scenes. Many believed his silence, combined with his eventual departure, left Liverpool at risk of losing one of their most valuable players for nothing.
Doubts over Trent’s version of events grew after his Real Madrid unveiling in June 2025, when he accidentally admitted he had been “waiting a long time” for the transfer — before quickly correcting himself, claiming he meant only a few weeks. His fluent Spanish at the presentation also raised eyebrows, suggesting he had been preparing for life in Madrid well beforehand.
Now, ahead of the Champions League showdown between Liverpool and Real Madrid, Trent has again implied his decision was made early — and that Jude Bellingham played a key part in it.
Speaking to Amazon Prime (via Liverpool.com), he said:
> “There was a lot of speculation… the ‘Agent Jude’ talk. It started in his first season at Real Madrid. At England camps, everyone wanted to know what it was like there. He said it was unbelievable — the standards, the winning mentality, everything.
In the end, I made my mind up. I needed something different for myself — a new challenge on and off the pitch.”
His comments will likely reopen wounds among Liverpool fans, who will feel their suspicions were justified — that Trent had planned his exit well in advance, and the contract drama was a smokescreen to shift responsibility away from him.
Leave a Reply