Gary Neville has dismissed Real Madrid's bid for Trent Alexander-Arnold as insulting, with the Liverpool star's uncertain future taking a new twist.
The youth product has entered the final six months of his contract with the Anfield club and can now enter negotiations with other clubs. Speculation over a move to Real Madrid is rife, but Los Blancos tried their luck this month with an early strike to land the England international from Liverpool.
Alexander-Arnold has remained privately tight-lipped about his future plans and would like to remain by Arne Slot's side until the end of the season, regardless of what comes next. That didn't seem to stop Real from testing Liverpool's resolve.
Neville has criticized the move and suggested it could have affected Alexander-Arnold's mentality after the draw against Manchester United. The full-back had a hard time on Sunday afternoon.
“Real Madrid's offer is bad timing for him,” Neville said. “I don't know what's going to happen to him, but especially when you have that when you play a big game, and you're a local boy, it's not going to be easy with the distractions.
“Real Madrid are a great animal. It was insulting of them, they behave like that and think they can get what they want. But Liverpool are a club with huge status, they will never sell Trent for £20m.” January. You take the Mickey a bit with you.
“That probably would have made him nervous. You can imagine his agent, family and friends asking him how he's doing, and that noise going on in his head before the game. That wouldn't have helped.”
Neville believes there are only three reasons that could underlie Alexander-Arnold's performance, one of which is the impact of the noise surrounding his future. The Salford City owner sympathizes with Liverpool's position but hinted that it is something they must find a solution to with the futures of Mo Salah and Virgil van Dijk also unresolved.
“The club has allowed these three contracts to expire at the same time, the club's three most valuable players,” Neville added. “The problem is with clubs, and I know that because I have one. When you bring a player through the ranks it hurts when you feel like you have to pay for the fee again.
“Mo Salah wants a three-year contract of £400,000 a year, that's £60 million in total. He probably deserves that because to replace him you have to pay £60 million or £70 million plus their wages, maybe £120 million. ” all in.
“For Trent, a young player coming through the ranks, you can be a bit bullied because it seems like you owe us something, we got you through.
“I'm not saying Liverpool will do that, but there are three reasons why he played the way he did today: he's played games like that before, he could just be having a bad day, or that noise in his head all week could just be too much.” have to do with the fact that he played those kinds of games.” too many distractions.”
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