Alexander-Arnold should listen to what Mourinho once said about Gerrard, Real Madrid and Liverpool - opinion

01/02/2025 03:00 PM

Liverpool once again find themselves involved in a tug-of-war with Real Madrid.

The Reds have had some epic battles with the European champions over the years, often coming out on the losing side.

Although those clashes have usually come on the pitch during high profile Champions League games, they have sometimes come while battling for players in the transfer market, too.

This time, the fight involves the latter, with Real Madrid pushing to sign Trent Alexander-Arnold.

As Alexander-Arnold weighs up whether to sign a new contract with Liverpool or jump ship for one of the most glamorous clubs in world football, it is no doubt a hard decision.

But Trent is not the first Liverpool academy graduate to have to make a similar call. As the right-back ponders what to do, he should take heed of what Jose Mourinho once said about trying to sign Steven Gerrard when he was in charge at Real.

Jose Mourinho point about Steven Gerrard rings true

There are perhaps plenty of people who will advise Alexander-Arnold that this could be a once in a lifetime opportunity for him, and that may be right.

But there is also a real danger that the No.66 is about to blow his legacy as a Liverpool legend to smithereens.

Should he go, Trent will never again be likened to local hero Gerrard, who gave up all kinds of offers during his career to stay at Liverpool.

The man driving plenty of those offers was former Chelsea, Real Madrid and Inter Milan boss Mourinho. But speaking ahead of Gerrard’s final game against Chelsea in 2015, the then Blues boss said he was pleased that the Scouser stood firm.

“I tried to bring him to Chelsea, I tried to bring him to Inter, I tried to bring him to Real Madrid but he was always a dear enemy,” Mourinho told Sky Sports.

READ MORE: The two things Trent Alexander-Arnold is demanding for him stay at Liverpool and reject Real Madrid

Asked if he was disappointed not to have got his man, though, the Portuguese boss said he felt the opposite.

“No, no. I am very happy that he didn’t (leave). In the end I think he had an amazing career and an amazing feeling with his people that he refused to play for other big clubs – he refused to play in other big leagues to play only for Liverpool.

“I think this is a feeling that stays forever.”

Alexander-Arnold must think carefully

Obviously, it is not the time to start writing the obituary on Alexander-Arnold’s Liverpool career.

The 26-year-old is still very much a Red and if he is to bow out in 2025, could yet leave in the most glorious circumstances possible.

However, the feeling amongst Liverpool supporters towards Trent is currently far from being good.

Should he take this chance to leave the club who developed him from the age of six, that feeling is only going to get worse.

You are a long time retired from playing and Gerrard will always and forever be celebrated by anyone of a red persuasion in Liverpool. That option is still there for Trent, too, and he must think very carefully before heading down a different path.