Real Madrid ‘insulted’ Liverpool Over Alexander-Arnold, Says Neville – As Slot Backs Defender - Sportsnewsfoot

Real Madrid “think they can get what they want” and have “insulted” Liverpool over Trent Alexander-Arnold, Gary Neville has said.

Reigning Spanish and European champions Madrid are widely reported to have made a move for Alexander Arnold, who joined the Reds’ academy in 2004 but is out of contract at the end of the season.

“The bid is bad timing for him,” former Manchester United captain Neville told Sky Sports after Alexander-Arnold’s defensive display came under scrutiny during his side’s 2-2 draw at home to the Red Devils in the Premier League on Sunday.

“If you’ve got that, going into a big game and you’re a local lad, that won’t be easy, having all of that noise. Real Madrid are one hell of an animal.

“I thought it was insulting from Real Madrid to behave like that. They behave like that sometimes and think they can get what they want.”

“The bid from Real Madrid is bad timing for him…It’s insulting”@GNev2 and @Carra23 don’t hold back on their thoughts about Real Madrid’s bid for Trent Alexander-Arnold 😨 pic.twitter.com/A6Whz05JQG

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) January 5, 2025

Slot: Alexander-Arnold ‘did not have best game’

United, who arrived 13 places and 23 points behind the league leaders, concentrated most of their attacks on right-back Alexander-Arnold’s flank, scoring both of their goals from that side.

The 26-year-old England international was replaced by Conor Bradley four minutes after Amad Diallo equalised with United’s second goal.

“Trent has played mostly good games for this club but there have been games when he wasn’t at his best,” said Liverpool manager Arne Slot.

“Today wasn’t his best game, but that was probably to do with [United] as well. It’s also to do with Bruno Fernandes, who is a very, very good player and played well.

“Daniel tell me what the problem was…that was just waffle” 😨

Daniel Sturridge and @Carra23 get heated over Trent Alexander-Arnold 😯 pic.twitter.com/HMBZ4uEyb9

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) January 5, 2025

“[Diogo] Dalot was a threat on the left. It’s not always easy to prevent them from getting in dangerous situations.

“Especially in the first half, sometimes Ryan [Gravenberch] wasn’t close enough to [Alexander-Arnold], so it was sometimes a 2-v-1 situation. I would put it more on the quality of Dalot and Bruno Fernandes than Trent.”

Madrid ‘taking the mickey’

Ex-Three Lions right-back Neville said the speculation “wouldn’t have been helpful” to Alexander-Arnold. “Liverpool are a club of immense stature and they’re never going to sell [him] for £20 million in January,” he added.

“You’re taking the micky, a little bit. I imagine that will have unnerved him. You can imagine his family and his agent all saying ‘what’s happening, Trent?’”

Alexander-Arnold has started 22 of Liverpool’s 24 Premier League and Champions League matches in 2024/25.