- Trent Alexander-Arnold has been linked with Real Madrid as his contract is set to expire
- Former Barcelona striker Lineker says Alexander-Arnold would thrive in La Liga
- LISTEN NOW: It’s all starting! New line-up, some new faces, but optimism has faded at Old Trafford
Gary Lineker has urged Trent Alexander-Arnold to move to Real Madrid and said the Liverpool full-back would “love” living in the Spanish capital.
Alexander-Arnold, 26, has been the subject of much debate over the Christmas period and his contract is set to expire at the end of this season. You can legally speak up and sign an agreement to join one of them starting New Year’s Day.
And Lineker has joined the conversation on his podcast The Rest Is Football.
“For me this makes a lot of sense,” said the outgoing Match of the Day presenter. “Free transfer is how Real Madrid has done things lately.
“He is very close to Jude Bellingham and would fit perfectly there. He would be a big success. They wouldn’t focus on his critical defense like we do here (too much in my opinion). He fits perfectly and would be a big loss for Liverpool.
“But they have a young man coming up, Conor Bradley, who has done very well. I think it is very likely that that will happen, although I don’t have any inside information.
Alexander-Arnold will become a free agent when his contract expires at the end of the season.
Gary Lineker, who played for Barcelona in the 1980s, says the 26-year-old will thrive in Spain
Alexander-Arnold has been consistently linked with a move to Carlo Ancelotti’s side this season, and is close to his England team-mate and Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham.
Mail Sport reported this weekend how Real Madrid are increasingly confident they can tempt Alexander-Arnold to join them, according to sources in Spain. No agreement has been reached and everything depends on the decision of the side.
Alexander-Arnold is committed to Liverpool for now and is not distracted by outside noise, and manager Arne Slot has also said he is calm about the situation.
Until a pre-contract agreement is signed, which is not certain, Liverpool will continue to work tirelessly to renew the deals of Alexander-Arnold, captain Virgil van Dijk and top scorer Mohamed Salah.
‘How do you say no to Real Madrid?’ Lineker added. “Liverpool is an incredible football club, but a new challenge, playing abroad, I did it myself (moved from Everton to Barcelona in 1986). “Playing for Real Madrid or Barcelona is really special.
“No matter how strong, powerful and rich the Premier League is, the greats of the world continue to go to Barcelona and Real Madrid. The only exception in recent times is Erling Haaland. Apart from that, they go there.
You will love it there. It will be amazing. They will love and appreciate his range of passes. He is in the best moment of his career. I wouldn’t envy him.
Meanwhile, Liverpool are sweating over test results after Joe Gomez injured his hamstring during Sunday’s 5-0 win at West Ham.
