Liverpool chief admits Trent Alexander-Arnold disappointment and details parting message

Liverpool chairman Tom Werner has conceded that the club hierarchy were disappointed when Trent Alexander-Arnold informed them he wanted to leave. Alexander-Arnold turned down the offer of a new contract with his boyhood club in order to join Real Madrid this summer.

While he was originally set to join Real as a free agent when his Liverpool deal expired on June 30, Alexander-Arnold ended up leaving earlier. The Spanish giants paid Liverpool £8.4million to sign him early, so he could play for them at the Club World Cup.

His decision was the opposite of Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk, who decided to sign new contracts, and was met with fury by some supporters, who accused him of betraying the club. Emotions were high in the final few games of the season and Werner has admitted that owners Fenway Sports Group were similarly upset initially.

"We do respect the fact that Trent has moved on,” Werner told The Liverpool Echo. “I told someone recently this story about seeing Trent on the last weekend of the season, with Billy [Hogan, chief executive] and I just wanted him to know from me personally we are and were as a club thankful for all his contributions.

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"He showed me a picture when he was seven years old, when he was a young kid at the academy, and I have a lot of fondness for all that he has done and so it is time for him to move and time for us to replace him.

"We do wish him well and I understand the emotions of supporters who were disappointed and we were disappointed too but it is overshadowed by my wonderful memories of him.

"I'll never forget that pass he made, the corner he took, for the fourth goal against Barcelona. That was just a work of genius and as a football fan, watching some of his assists, the way he would pass the ball 30-plus yards to a specific point and create a goal was just...no wonder Real Madrid are delighted!"

Alexander-Arnold has made three appearances for Real at the Club World Cup and is trying to get used to his new team-mates and the language barrier. He is learning Spanish and says the integration has been made easier by manager – and former Liverpool star – Xabi Alonso.

“Every player is impressing me,” Alexander-Arnold told reporters after the 3-0 win over RB Salzburg. “From when I played against Real Madrid, (I knew) all the players are world class. But just the way the lads are, when you come in, you expect it to be very intimidating, you don’t know what to expect.

“But it was very warm, very welcoming, they made me feel at home straight away, which was amazing. It allows me to play as well as I can and today coming into the game, I was confident to go and perform.

“The settlement period now is done and it’s about kicking on and being the best player that I can be and giving the best for the team and helping the team win as many games as possible starting with this competition.”

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