Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher has spoken out for the first time about Trent Alexander-Arnold's potential move to Real Madrid.
The 26-year-old defender has been heavily linked with the Spanish giants throughout this season as his Liverpool contract nears its end.
Alexander-Arnold is one of three key Liverpool players, alongside Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah, whose contracts expire at the end of the campaign.
Despite ongoing negotiations, no breakthrough has been made with any of the trio.
Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher has spoken out for the first time about Trent Alexander-Arnold's potential move to Real Madrid
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Reports from Spain on Tuesday suggested a deal for Alexander-Arnold to join Real Madrid is "all set and done" with the Spanish club confident of signing him on a free transfer this summer.
Real Madrid previously had a £20million bid for the defender rejected in January.
Carragher admitted that while he isn't angry at Alexander-Arnold, he is disappointed with the reasoning behind the potential move.
Speaking on the Stick To Football podcast, Carragher expressed his disappointment that Alexander-Arnold doesn't see Liverpool as the pinnacle of his career.
"Where I'm at is that as a local player and a Liverpool fan, Liverpool are in a position where they're competing for the league and a European Cup every year," he said.
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"So, if you're a Liverpool fan and a local player, I'm just disappointed that he doesn't think that this is it."
The former defender put himself in Alexander-Arnold's position, suggesting what his own thinking would be.
He continued: "I'd be thinking that we could go level with Manchester United in league trophies, I've got another seven or eight years at Liverpool and want to get three or four ahead of them, with a couple more European Cups."
Carragher also addressed the "toxic" fan reaction to Alexander-Arnold potentially leaving on a free transfer.
"It seems like there's not one thing people are unhappy with it's leaving on a free or that he should have come out and told the club earlier people are angry for three or four different things," he said.
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"In an ideal world, Liverpool would get £70m or £80m for him to reinvest, but you can't have it both ways as a supporter.
"If Liverpool sign someone on a free in the summer, we'd all be delighted, so does that mean that his former club should absolutely hate him?"
Carragher added: "When you're a local player you don't cost anything Trent going on a free is like Virgil van Dijk leaving for £75m, we'd still break even."
Alexander-Arnold has made 349 appearances for Liverpool since coming through the academy system.
During that time, the defender has contributed 22 goals and provided 87 assists for the Reds.
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His impressive performances have helped him win eight trophies with his boyhood club.
Alexander-Arnold's status at Liverpool was further cemented when he was appointed vice-captain in the summer of 2023.
He has understandably been a firm fan favourite throughout his time at Anfield.
His success on the pitch has also translated to commercial appeal off it.
Alexander-Arnold has secured partnerships with several major brands including adidas, EA SPORTS, Guess Jeans, Under Armour and Google Pixel.
This growing commercial profile appears to be part of what Carragher was referencing in his comments about the player's future ambitions.
Trent Alexander-Arnold has won every major trophy with Liverpool as he closes in on Real Madrid move
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The Liverpool icon questioned whether Alexander-Arnold's move to Spain might be motivated by brand ambitions rather than purely footballing reasons.
"I think Trent is a player who looks at himself almost like a brand, and that's not just him, a lot of players do now," he explained.
The former Liverpool defender referenced a revealing interview Alexander-Arnold gave on Sky Sports.
"He was given five options on which he'd pick as the most important for you: captain of Liverpool, win the Champions League with Liverpool, win the World Cup with England, or win the Ballon d'Or and he chose the Ballon d'or.
"He wanted to be the first full-back that won the Ballon d'Or."
While acknowledging there's nothing wrong with having ambition, Carragher pointed out: "That didn't go down particularly well with Liverpool supporters."
