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FRIDAY | MAR 28, 2025

Malaysian Paper

Bernabeu calling

Alexander-Arnold nears Real Madrid move on free

transfer as contract set to expire

T R E N T

ALEXANDER-ARNOLD is close to finalising a deal to join Real Madrid this year.

tournament is set to begin in the United

and has been at the Premier League club for more than two decades, has been able to discuss terms with overseas clubs since January. He is one of three key Liverpool players out of contract this summer, with the futures of Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk still unclear. Alexander-Arnold had previously admitted he could see himself playing out his entire career at Anfield in a conversation with GQ in 2020. “I can, yeah,” Alexander-Arnold said when pushed over whether he could envisage himself as a one-club player. “It is not something I have ever really thought about. I have always loved Liverpool; I have always supported them. “I have always played for them, so I have never had that reason to think about it. “Still, now I wouldn’t sit there in my room and daydream about playing somewhere else. Right now, I am a Liverpool player, I love the club more than anything.” Alexander-Arnold then said as recently as last September he still held ambitions to captain the Reds, with

States on June 15. Real Madrid are willing to pay a transfer fee of around £5 million (RM28m) to sign him on the first day of June, according to The Sun . They are said to be optimistic that Liverpool will accept it and release him early, allowing him to feature in the Club World Cup. Former players McManaman and Owen have backed the Liverpool vice captain’s switch to the Bernabeu. “If he does choose to go to Real Madrid and he does choose to forge a new adventure with a new language and a new lifestyle, all credit to him,” the 53-year-old McManaman told BBC Sport . “It is a fantastic opportunity for him, if he does go, and no doubt he will be a superstar there as well.” Owen added: “He can be sitting and thinking, I’ve done everything. I’ve achieved absolutely everything at my boyhood club. “Who can deny me a chance to go and play for one of the biggest teams in the world, a new experience, a new country, new language, new weather, new food, new everything? And what a team.” – The Independent/Agencies

Virgil van Dijk leading Arne Slot’s side this season. “I have always said I want to captain the club. That is a goal of mine, whether that happens is out of my hands,” he told Sky Sport. Should Alexander-Arnold move to the Bernabeu, he would link up with friend and England teammate Jude Bellingham, while also following in the footsteps of other former England internationals to link up with Los Blancos , including David Beckham, Steve McManaman, Michael Owen and Jonathan Woodgate.

The Liverpool right-back has long been linked with a move to the Santiago Bernabeu and he is expected join Madrid when his current contract expires. The 26-year-old is in talks over a five-year deal worth more than £200,000 (RM1.1m) a week, along with a major signing-on bonus. The broad financial package has been accepted but the final details of how that salary is structured, regarding salary and bonuses, still needs to be agreed. Alexander-Anrold could become the latest star player to join the Spanish giants on a free transfer, with Kylian Mbappe, David Alaba and Antonio Rudiger all joining as free agents in recent years. Alexander-Arnold made his Liverpool debut as an 18-year-old in 2016. His honours with the club include the Champions League, Premier League, FA Cup and Club World Cup and he is on course to add a second League crown this season with Arne Slot’s side currently 12 points clear at the top of the table. The England international, who came through the ranks at Liverpool

Real Madrid could pay a small transfer fee to sign Alexander-Arnold before his Liverpool contract expires, according to reports. He remains tied down to Liverpool until the end of June, but Madrid could try to prise him away before

Trent Alexander Arnold

then so he can play in the Club World Cup. The new-look

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