Trent Alexander-Arnold has shared why he decided to put just his first name on the back of his shirt at Real Madrid.
After making the move to Los Blancos for £10 million from Liverpool, he was finally introduced as a Galactico on Thursday, ending months of speculation about his future.
Before the big presentation, the 26-year-old took a stroll around Real Madrid's impressive facilities. He even got to see some of the club’s recent Champions League trophies — including a couple he had come so close to winning with Liverpool.
In some photos taken in front of the shiny silverware, you could see him beaming as he proudly showed off his new colors for the first time. He’s taken the number 12 shirt and will simply go by “Trent” now.
Fans and pundits alike have been curious about his choice to drop his last name from his jersey. So, he explained it pretty clearly. "It's quite simple," he told the media. "Whenever I travel in Europe, people get confused with my full name, with all the double-barreled stuff — Alexander-Arnold."
He continued, "People call me all sorts: Arnold, Alexander, Alex, and of course, Trent. It can get a bit crazy. So I thought, let’s just keep it easy. Trent on the back, that’s my name, and that’s what I want people to call me."
After those initial photos, Real Madrid’s President Florentino Perez invited him to speak as a new player, with his girlfriend, Estelle Behnke, and family cheering him on from the crowd.
Now, considering he has spent his entire career on Merseyside, many expected him to kick off his speech in English and maybe throw in some Spanish at the end. But to everyone’s surprise, he delivered his entire speech in Spanish! He expressed that joining the 15-time European champions is truly "a dream come true."
He said, "Thank you, Florentino Perez, and the club for this opportunity. This doesn’t happen every day." He added, "It’s a dream come true. I’m extremely happy and proud to be here. I want to show the Real Madrid fans what I can do. I know the expectations are high, but I’m ready to give everything for the team and the fans."
Trent is starting a six-year contract with Los Blancos, leaving Liverpool a month early so he can participate in the Club World Cup kicking off this Sunday.
He announced his departure from Merseyside in early May, just a week after Arne Slot’s side clinched their 20th League title against Tottenham.
When asked about his move to the Spanish capital, Trent, who had been pretty tight-lipped over the last year, admitted it was tough to bid farewell to the Reds. "It was never about where I’d go, but whether to leave," he said. "But deep down, I’ve known for a while that if I were to leave Liverpool, it would only be for Real Madrid. That’s the only place for me."
He reflected on how hard the decision was, especially after being at Liverpool for so long. "But eventually, you have to make a choice, and I believe I’ve made the right one."
He fondly recounted his time at Liverpool, saying, "I loved every single moment and achieved everything I wanted to. I’ll always be grateful to the club."
"But I felt this was the right time," he continued. "After 20 years, achieving what I set out to do, and at my age, I feel ready and experienced enough to find success somewhere else."
He also mentioned that in recent conversations with the club’s owners, they expressed their gratitude for his service and wished him well, saying he would always have a home there. "It was the perfect send-off," he noted.
During his nine years with Liverpool’s senior squad, Trent made over 350 appearances, scored 27 goals, and racked up an impressive 96 assists.
Now, it’s time for "Trent" to step into a new chapter of his career, starting with the upcoming Club World Cup, where both Manchester City and Chelsea will be competing as well. Exciting times ahead!
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