Liverpool right back could still remain at the club, says Ryan Babel
Former Liverpool winger Ryan Babel has given fans a flicker of hope amid mounting speculation that Trent Alexander-Arnold is edging closer to a summer switch to Real Madrid.
The right back’s contract is set to expire at the end of the season, with Madrid interested in signing him, and many supporters have already given up hope of a late contract extension.
Alexander-Arnold further sparked debate with his eye-catching celebration after scoring the winner against Leicester at the King Power Stadium on Sunday, where he took off his shirt and hung it on the corner flag. Many took it as a message that he would soon hang up his shirt.
Ryan Babel, a fan favourite during his Anfield days, has backed the defender to remain at Anfield, saying that nothing is final until pen meets paper.
“As long as nothing is signed, things can still be influenced,” Babel said. “I’ve seen crazy things in football, so everything is possible.”
Alexander-Arnold is a local lad, born in West Derby, Liverpool. He joined Liverpool’s academy as a little boy and played across all its youth levels before being promoted to the first team in 2016 under Jurgen Klopp. Fans are emotionally invested in him staying at the club as a result.
Babel understands that, but also acknowledges that Alexander-Arnold ultimately has to be the one to make decisions on his career.
“Obviously, local boy, so it’s even maybe more sensitive. But at the end of the day, it’s Trent’s career,” explained Babel. “He has won many things for the club already. And sometimes as an individual, regardless if you are from that city, you have aspirations, you have dreams, and your career is only short.”
For Alexander-Arnold, those aspirations may lie in the white of Madrid. But Babel was quick to urge empathy and support for the right-back if he were to ultimately choose to move on.
“If his heart desires to try and be successful outside of Liverpool,” said Babel, “we should wish him well.”
