Jamie Carragher confessed that Trent Alexander-Arnold expressing his desire to win the Ballon d’Or ahead of team honours will not have endeared him to the Liverpool fans
Jamie Carragher admits that Liverpool fans will have been angered when Trent Alexander-Arnold confessed he’d rather land the Ballon d’Or over the Champions League. The right-back has confirmed he will depart Anfield when his contract expires this summer.
As a result sections of the fanbase have cut ties with the academy graduate – who had to face boos when he came on as a sub during Sunday’s 2-2 with Arsenal. Alexander-Arnold has been a hugely influential figure for the Reds and adored as one of the homegrown players.
However, he underlined a motivation to put individual honours before team prizes when he was quizzed earlier this season. Carragher admits that Alexander-Arnold is now “a brand” and a move to Real Madrid is on the cards this summer.
Liverpool have only ever had one Ballon d’Or winner in their history – that being Michael Owen back in 2001. Real meanwhile have seen eight of their players win it – more than any club – and Alexander-Arnold’s comments will not have sold him as a team player.
Carragher said on Sky Sports: “Trent was asked whether he’d want to win the Champions League or the Ballon D’or and he said Ballon D’Or – even if he thinks that, it’s not the right answer for a local player at Liverpool. The club has to come first. That showed Liverpool supporters he’s not a player who thinks about the club more than himself. He’s a brand. He’s an amazing footballer and that’s why Real Madrid want him.”
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The likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Luka Modric and Karim Benzema have all claimed the Golden Ball in recent years whilst playing for Los Blancos. To win it as a right-back would be a huge ask, but Alexander-Arnold is seen as a generational talent.
His exit though has stirred mixed emotions on Merseyside. Arne Slot benched him at the weekend and Carragher was slightly taken aback by how many supporters at Anfield chose to boo him upon his entrance. The ex-Red refused to condone the behaviour whilst understanding the anger.
He said: “I’m surprised how many. When you’re in a crowd of 60,000, there’s no doubt there’s a lot of unhappy people at Liverpool about the situation. And I’ve said that’s understandable.
“But for me, I said it before the show and said the same away at Leicester where there were a few boos in the away section, I don’t believe any player putting on that red shirt on going out there to get them three points or winning titles who goes on to win trophies should be being booed.”
Slot confessed that the fans were entitled to their opinion when it came to reacting to Alexander-Arnold. Carragher has hinted that it could be the right-back’s last game in a Liverpool shirt as the club aim to avoid a “circus” in the final games of the season.
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