Jamie Carragher has revealed why he thinks that Liverpool fans have remained upset by the Anfield exit of Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Alexander-Arnold today announced that he will leave Boyhood Club Liverpool after 20 years after the expiry of his current deal this summer.
The 26-year-old right back released an emotional video in which he explained that he is ready to find a new challenge, but admitted that “people will not be happy”.
And he has already received an important recoil, with fan videos who have set his Liverpool shirt on fire and abuse him online immediately after his announcement.
Nothing is still official, but Alexander-Arnold seems to be about to be a six-year contract with Real Madrid worth £ 240,000 a week worth £ 240,000 a week.
It is that movement that Carragher thinks has left a sour taste in the mouth of the Anfield – believers – that suggests that Madrid is seen as a direct rival of the Reds.
In his Telegraafkolom, Carragher wrote: “Liverpool is working on winning more Premier League and Champions League titles. Everything that undermines a threat.
“You may not agree with it, or believe that the competitive attitude towards the loss of a star player is justified, but it is what makes Liverpool the successful club it is, and it is no different than what you would expect at Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Barcelona or Manchester United.
“By leaving Liverpool, Alexander-Arnold makes it harder for his own club to win his 21st league title and seventh European cup. That will certainly create emotions.”
While he also went back to his own experience of a Liverpool player, he remembered the time he was asked by Geoff Shreeves if he should think of becoming a member of a “larger” club than the Merseyside outfit.
Carragher remembered that he simply replied: “Who is bigger than Liverpool?”
The retired middle behind also claimed that fans feel that an academy player like Alexander-Arnold Jumping Ship can come across as if he is looking for “something bigger or better”.
That is an idea that Alexander-Arnold refuted himself during his goodbye video and said: “I think the decision is for me personally. To change my environment, to challenge myself elsewhere.
“It's not about wanting to find something better, it's about me and my personal journey as a player and I think that now is the best time for me to experience that.
“People will not be happy with the decision, but it is something I feel that I have to do with my career.”
Carragher even compared the exit with Ryan Giggs or Paul Scholes Manchester United in their splendor, or even John Terry who said goodbye to Chelsea and Bukayo Saka who turned his back on Arsenal.
However, he admitted that Alexander-Arnold will always be considered a Liverpool legend, with his iconic fast angle against Barcelona in 2019 as a time that will go to the club in history.
While the English International Liverpool also helped to win two Premier League titles, two competitions, a FA Cup and the Champions League during his term of office at the club.
The Athletic Report Alexander-Arnold informed manager Arne Slot about his decision to leave the club in a face-to-face meeting in the Kirkby training complex of the club in March after the ankle injury he ran against Paris Saint-Germain in the last 16 of the Champions League.
It is said that Slot has expressed his disappointment, but the decision has respected and told him: “You are a large part of this team and let's end it together at a peak.”
Alexander-Arnold then replied: “My way of thinking and dedication will not change. I will continue to give everything for this club until the last day.”
Now the football community with held breath will wait to see what kind of reception Alexander-Arnold will get from the agent when the champions are Arsenal host on Sunday.
Even the official club statement from Liverpool seemed to read as Bot, pointing to the fact that the Academy graduated had informed them about his decision – not the other way around.
It stated: “Trent Alexander-Arnold has informed Liverpool FC of his intention to leave the club this summer after the end of his current contract.
“Trent will leave with our gratitude and appreciation for his contribution during a long -term period of success.”
Local Lad Alexander -Arnold has been with the Reds since he was only six years old – and became one of their greatest graduates ever from the Academy and made more than 350 performances since his debut in 2016, 18 years old.