Michael Owen Warns Trent Alexander-Arnold About Risks of Leaving Liverpool for Real Madrid
Michael Owen has cautioned Trent Alexander-Arnold that leaving Liverpool for Real Madrid could jeopardize his career trajectory. With the right-back’s contract set to expire at the end of the season, Alexander-Arnold will be free to negotiate with Carlo Ancelotti’s team from January 1.
If the 26-year-old opts for the move, he would mirror Owen’s own 2004 transfer from Liverpool to Real Madrid, a high-profile £8 million deal following his decision not to renew his Anfield contract. However, Owen’s pursuit of greater accolades at the Spanish club proved sobering, as he quickly discovered that leaving his boyhood club didn’t guarantee a smoother path forward.
Owen, reflecting on his career, has frequently expressed regret over the strained relationship with Liverpool, the club where he rose to prominence and won the Ballon d’Or—the last Englishman to do so. Now, he fears his bond with the Reds is irreparably damaged, prompting him to offer a word of caution to Alexander-Arnold.
Speaking to the Liverpool Echo, Owen highlighted the potential pitfalls awaiting Alexander-Arnold if his camaraderie with Jude Bellingham on the national team transitions into a club partnership. “I can assure you, I was as loyal and committed as players like Trent and [Jamie] Carragher,” Owen said.
“But when you leave, you lose some control. You start focusing on staying at the top, keeping your England place, and other external pressures. At Liverpool, your boyhood club, things just fall into place—you focus on football and nothing else. It’s a very different dynamic when you leave.”
Owen’s relationship with Liverpool fans soured further after his controversial 2009 move to Manchester United. Reflecting on the backlash, he remarked, “I get it. People say, ‘Trent would never go to Manchester United,’ but I didn’t think I would either. Circumstances often dictate how players are judged.”
He also addressed how public perception of footballers can hinge on fleeting moments, noting: “I hear the Kop singing for players who had brief, average careers at Liverpool just because they have catchy names. Meanwhile, others who contributed massively are forgotten. It’s baffling and, frankly, a bit pathetic, but that’s football—and life.”
Owen’s remarks serve as a stark reminder of the personal and professional risks Alexander-Arnold might face if he chooses to leave the club where his career began.
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