Rooney understands why Alexander-Arnold would swap Liverpool for Real Madrid

Wayne Rooney says he can understand why Trent would exchange Alexander-Arnold Liverpool for Real Madrid who would have considered a move to Spain itself.

The full-back of England is confronted with an uncertain future in Anfield with his contract that expires at the end of the season.

Wide reports suggested last week that the 26-year-old already decided to make the switch to the Santiago Bernabeu on a free transfer.

Former Manchester United and England star Rooney, Writing for BBC Sport, says that the temptation for playing for Los Blancos would be difficult for every player to reject.

He wrote: “If Trent Alexander-Arnold comes to Real Madrid this summer, an honest game for him. I was once tempted to take a big step to Spain myself.

“Alexander -Arnold is 26 and from a contract at the end of the season, so he is in a position in which he commits or decides to go to Real for the rest of his career – who clearly want him.

“If he left Liverpool for another club, you might wonder why, but because it is really what we are talking about, I don't think you could ask as a career movement.

“Real being the largest club in the world with an incredible history, so it would be a huge opportunity and I would understand if he thought it was too good to reject.

“Liverpool is his boy's club, so I can understand why leaving them is more of a dilemma, but sometimes you as a player have to make these decisions about where your future is.”

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Rooney thought about the time he wanted to leave Old Trafford in 2010, stating Madrid and Barcelona as lovers who would have seduced him.

“When I told Manchester United in 2010 that I did not want to sign a new deal and did a transfer application, three clubs came in for me,” he added.

“Manchester City is often spoken as one of them, but I don't think that was once an option for me – the teams who made an approach were Chelsea, Real and Barcelona.

“In my head I was ready to play in Spain and some conversations took place.

“A deal with Real seemed more likely a few days, but it was Barcelona that I thought the most, and how I would fit in their side alongside Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta, Xavi and Sergio Busquets.

“Eventually I decided to stay in United, but Barca then had an incredible team and every player would have liked to play in it.

“Really are now the same with superstars such as Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham and Vinicius JR, so it must of course be attractive for Alexander -Arnold to think about playing them – everyone would feel the same thing.

“He has been in Liverpool for almost 20 years – since he was six – but the reality is that most players move at one point – that is why there are so few men from one club such as Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher.”

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