Roberto Martinez, the former Everton boss and current Portugal head coach, has weighed in on Trent Alexander-Arnold’s ongoing contract saga at Liverpool.
With the 26-year-old’s deal expiring in the summer of 2025, there’s a lot of speculation around his Anfield future, especially as he’ll be free to talk to foreign clubs come January.
Real Madrid is reportedly leading the chase for the Alexander-Arnold, who boasts over 300 appearances and a full trophy cabinet with the Reds. Currently, under Arne Slot’s guidance, Liverpool is flying high domestically and in Europe.
Martinez, who was part of Amazon Prime’s punditry team alongside Liverpool alumni Emile Heskey and John Arne Riise during the Reds’ 3-1 triumph over Leicester City, shared his insights before the match.
“Years ago we would have said he’s English and it’s his club so he will stay and finish his career [at Liverpool],” Martinez remarked. “I don’t think that’s the case now.”
He added: “The English players love the challenge of going abroad. They feel that to maybe win a Ballon d’Or or the recognition from football world, you have to go abroad.
“Then you look at the situation, there are not many players around the world now with the quality of Trent [who are] available on a free transfer. Let’s be realistic, if Trent wanted to stay at Liverpool, maybe he would have already signed the contract.”
While Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah have dropped hints that they want to stay, Alexander-Arnold has been much quieter. While that might just be the way he wants to conduct things, it is worrying from the fans’ perspective.
Hopefully he ends up proving a lot of us wrong and commits his future to his boyhood club. However, there are a lot of us – like Martinez – who feel he may have already made his mind up.
