Man United icon defends under-fire Liverpool ace ahead of Real Madrid transfer | OneFootball

Trent Alexander-Arnold is currently the most talked-about player in Europe, in the wake of his potential move to Real Madrid next season.

Unless some unexpected happens, everything suggests the Englishman is set to join Los Blancos on a free transfer, once his contract at Anfield comes to an end.

However, Alexander-Arnold’s decision to join Real Madrid has not gone down well with Liverpool fans, who are questioning the player’s loyalty and criticising his decision of not renewing his contract at Anfield.

Gary Neville comes to Alexander-Arnold’s defence

In the wake of fierce criticism and animosity from Liverpool fans, Gary Neville has come to the defence of Alexander-Arnold, backing his decision to join Real Madrid.

“In Trent’s case, what’s unforgivable is that, if you own Liverpool, two years ago you didn’t take Trent and say, ‘We have to renew his contract, he’s one of ours’,” he told Sky Sports (h/t Mundo Deportivo).

Alexander-Arnold’s loyalty is being questioned by Liverpool fans (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)

Neville is alluding to the fact that Liverpool were not keen enough to extend Alexander-Arnold’s contract a few years ago and are now suffering the consequences.

Indeed, the Reds haven’t acted with much urgency as far as their renewals are concerned, with Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk also going through a similar conundrum.

Liverpool’s lack of urgency in Alexander-Arnold is especially questionable considering the fact that the youngster has been a part of the club since 2004, working his way up the ranks before becoming the vice-captain.

For Real Madrid, this arrived as an ideal market opportunity for the club to snap up one of the world’s best full-backs on a free transfer.

Alexander-Arnold will become the second high-profile English player to join Los Blancos in the space of two years, with Jude Bellingham being the first.