Liverpool star Trent Alexander-Arnold looks set to join Real Madrid this summer.
The Englishman’s future has been up in the air for well over a year now. Everybody knew that his contract was going to expire at the end of this season, and the Reds have been trying to extend his deal.
TBR Football revealed that Liverpool made a historic contract offer to Alexander-Arnold to keep him at the club. That offer is still on the table, but it doesn’t look like it will be accepted.
Real Madrid appear to have won the race to sign Alexander-Arnold, and some behind-the-scenes details about the move have now emerged.
Real Madrid are the biggest club in the world.
The Galacticos almost always get the players they want, and that is again set to happen with Alexander-Arnold, a player they have been chasing for a year now.
Liverpool were prepared to offer their star right-back huge money to keep him, but despite that, his heart is set on a move to Real Madrid.
Fabrizio Romano has now revealed that money was not a factor in Alexander-Arnold’s decision – in fact, he knew all along that he wouldn’t get a crazy salary offer.
That was one of Real Madrid’s non-negotiables that they put in front of the England defender, and Romano reveals that Alexander-Arnold accepted that without any hesitation.
The journalist said on the Here We Go podcast: "My understanding from Real Madrid’s side is that this is not going to be a salary as one of the best-paid players at Real Madrid."
"Vinicius is negotiating a new deal, Mbappe joined one year ago, Jude Bellingham is on an important contract – it’s not going to be on that part of the contract strategy at Real Madrid. It’s going to be obviously a very good salary, but not a crazy salary."
"This is an important point. For Real Madrid, it was very clear since day one. They told very clearly to Trent already when they had the first conversations – ‘if you want to join, it has to be on our terms. Otherwise, you can extend at Liverpool or do whatever you want’. Real Madrid were very clear on this point."
Romano revealed that the same was said to Kylian Mbappe and Leny Yoro last year – the attacker accepted Real Madrid’s conditions, while the defender decided to head to Manchester United.
Speaking of Alexander-Arnold’s reaction to Real Madrid’s message, Romano said: "This was the message to Trent, and Trent immediately accepted."
Alexander-Arnold currently earns £180,000 a week at Liverpool.
The Englishman was always going to earn more with his next contract – be it at Anfield or elsewhere. Real Madrid are set to increase his wages, but not by a crazy amount.
That’s according to Sky Sports in Switzerland, who claim that Alexander-Arnold will pocket around €15 million (£13m) a year, which is about £250,000-a-week.
That will put the Liverpool star below the likes of Kylian Mbappe, David Alaba, Luka Modric, Jude Bellingham, Federico Valverde and even Thibaut Courtois on Real Madrid’s wage bill.
However, Alexander-Arnold is likely to receive a big signing bonus because he will be joining Real Madrid on a free transfer.