Report: Real Madrid push for early Liverpool exit ahead of Club World Cup | OneFootball

Trent’s Royal Move: Real Madrid Push to Fast-Track Alexander-Arnold Deal

Real Madrid rarely wait. Whether in the transfer market or on the pitch, they act with the decisiveness of a club used to getting what it wants. That’s why the story, first reported by AS, that they’re offering Liverpool a “symbolic amount” to fast-track Trent Alexander-Arnold’s transfer speaks volumes—not about the fee, but about the urgency.

Having already announced he will leave Anfield at the end of his contract in June 2025, Alexander-Arnold’s early departure is now the subject of Madrid’s focus. The Spanish giants want him available for the expanded FIFA Club World Cup kicking off in mid-June. Yet under his current deal, he cannot play until July 1st.

So Real have moved. They’ve reportedly offered Liverpool around €900,000 (£760,000), along with covering the England international’s final month of wages. The total financial package edges towards €2m (£1.7m)—a paltry figure for a player of his stature, but the reward on offer for Madrid justifies the logic.

World Stage Beckons: Club World Cup as Launchpad

The backdrop for this sudden negotiation is the Club World Cup, an increasingly lucrative platform. Madrid are set to earn $38.2m (£28.6m) just by participating, with an additional $87.6m (£65.5m) available should they reach the final. The mathematics are simple: securing Alexander-Arnold’s services early increases their chances of winning and multiplies the return.

Their group opponents—Al Hilal, Pachuca and RB Salzburg—might not send shivers down spines, but Madrid want their squad intact and firing. Alexander-Arnold’s creativity and elite ball progression could be a decisive edge, especially in matches where opposition sides sit deep and disrupt.

Liverpool’s Perspective: Farewell on Their Own Terms

Liverpool have stated Alexander-Arnold will depart once his contract expires on 30 June 2025. The phrasing, deliberately official and firm, suggests reluctance to release him before that point. Yet the symbolic gesture could be tempting. It would offer closure, a clean break, and a chance for fans to begin adjusting to life without one of their own.

Still, it’s a difficult scenario. How do you place a value on 20 years of service, a local lad turned Champions League winner, now walking into the Bernabéu?

Our View – Anfield Index Analysis

From a Liverpool supporter’s perspective, this is less about heartbreak and more about pragmatism. The reality is, Trent Alexander-Arnold’s time at Anfield is already done. His departure this summer has been confirmed, so the idea of him leaving a few weeks earlier than planned shouldn’t come as a massive shock.

What’s striking, though, is the price tag. €900,000? That barely scratches the surface of Trent’s true value, even if he’s technically out of contract. Still, when you consider the circumstances—his deal ending in June and Real Madrid’s desire to have him ready for the Club World Cup—it starts to make sense. From Liverpool’s perspective, accepting a modest fee and having his wages covered for the final month isn’t the worst outcome.

In truth, this feels like the first quiet step in a new era. Arne Slot won’t have Trent in his squad either way, so this early exit simply clears the path a bit sooner.