“He plays balls that some players don’t even think about" - David Beckham hails 'exceptional' Liverpool star Trent Alexander-Arnold
Manchester United legend David Beckham has lavished praise on Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold. The 26-year-old full-back has been in exceptional form for the Merseyside club in the past few years and is reportedly being eyed by Real Madrid.
Alexander-Arnold rose through the ranks at Anfield and broke into the first team under Jurgen Klopp in 2016. Since then, the Englishman has been a regular for the Reds, registering 19 goals and 83 assists from 319 games.
Speaking with Rio Ferdinand, Beckham admitted that he sees shades of himself in the Liverpool man.
“If there was one player I look at, and I think he’s very similar in the way he delivers the ball, he’s very similar in the way he crosses the ball or passes, it has to be Trent [Alexander-Arnold]," Beckham said (via Empire of the Kop).
He continued:
“His vision, he’s unbelievable. And he’s an exceptional player, but when I look at a player and I think I see myself in the way he puts the ball in, what he sees, in the long balls that he plays. He plays balls that some players don’t even think about and that’s what I love about him as a player.”
Alexander-Arnold's contract with the Reds runs until the end of this season and he is yet to sign an extension.
Can Liverpool convince Trent Alexander-Arnold to stay?
Liverpool are running out of time to convince Trent Alexander-Arnold to stay at Anfield. Real Madrid are keeping a close eye on the Englishman's situation and recent reports have suggested that they are already working to sign him for free in 2025.
This season, Alexander-Arnold has appeared nine times across competitions for the Merseyside club, setting up two goals. New manager Arne Slot is pleased with the player and would like him to stay.
The Reds are also aware that replacing the player will be a costly affair. Liverpool are likely to push to extend his stay in the coming days, but the current signs are ominous for the club. The lure of playing at the Santiago Bernabeu could be too hard for the Englishman to turn down.
Los Blancos could be willing to move for the player in January to help address Dani Carvajal's absence due to an ACL injury. However, Real Madrid won't mind signing the player on a Bosman move at the end of this season either. The presence of Alexander-Arnold's good friend Jude Bellingham at the Santiago Bernabeu won't help Liverpool's cause either.