Trent Alexander-Arnold played poorly in Liverpool’s draw against Manchester United following a week of speculation over his future after Real Madrid approached the Reds over a deal
Gary Neville has slammed Real Madrid’s bid for Trent Alexander-Arnold as insulting – with the Liverpool star’s uncertain future taking a fresh twist.
The academy product has entered the final six months of his contract with the Anfield club and is now allowed to engage in negotiations with other clubs. A move to Real Madrid has been widely speculated upon, but Los Blancos tried their luck with an early swoop to prise the England international from Liverpool this month.
Alexander-Arnold personally has remained tight-lipped over his future plans, and is said to want to remain with Arne Slot’s side until the end of the season, regardless of what lies beyond. That did not appear to prevent Real from testing Liverpool’s resolve.
Neville has criticised the move and suggested it could have impacted Alexander-Arnold’s mindset following the draw with Manchester United. The full-back struggled on Sunday afternoon.
“The bid from Real Madrid is bad timing for him,” said Neville. “I don’t know what’s going to happen with him, but certainly if you’ve got that going into a big game, and you’re a local lad, that won’t be easy with the distractions.
“Real Madrid are a hell of an animal. It was insulting from them, they behave like that and think they can get what they want. But Liverpool are a club of immense stature, they’re never going to sell Trent for £20m in January. You’re taking the mickey a bit.
“That will have probably unnerved him. You can imagine his agent, family and friends asking him how he’s doing, and that noise going on in his head before the game. That won’t have helped.”
Neville believes there are only three reasons that could be behind Alexander-Arnold’s performance, with one being the impact of the noise around his future. The Salford City owner empathises with Liverpool’s position, but hinted it is one they must find a solution for with Mo Salah and Virgil van Dijk’s futures also unresolved.
“The club have let these three contracts run down simultaneously, the three most valuable players in the club,” Neville added. “The problem is with clubs, and I know this from owning one, when you bring a player through the ranks it hurts you when you feel like you’ve got to pay for the fee again.
“Mo Salah wants a three-year deal at £400,000 a year, which is £60m overall. He probably deserves that, because to replace him you’re going to have to pay £60m or £70m plus their wages, maybe £120m all-in.
“For Trent, a young player who’s come through the ranks, you can get a little bit bullied because it’s like you owe us, we brought you through.
“I’m not saying Liverpool are doing that, but there’s one of three reasons he played how he did today – he’s had games like that before, he could just be having a bad day or that noise in his head all week could just be too much of a distraction.”
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