Real Madrid request Liverpool to release Trent Alexander-Arnold for free | OneFootball

Trent Alexander-Arnold has confirmed that he will leave Liverpool at the end of the season, with the England international on his way to Real Madrid.

The 26-year-old defender’s contract expires on June 30, following which he can sign as a free agent. However, Los Blancos are eager to have him in the squad for the FIFA Club World Cup which starts from June 15, posing a complication.

It has been suggested that Liverpool would be willing to release Alexander-Arnold early if Real Madrid pay a nominal fee and the right-back agrees to forego his wages for the month of June.

Real Madrid unwilling to pay any fee for Alexander-Arnold

However, according to the latest update from The Telegraph, Real Madrid have requested Liverpool to release Alexander-Arnold for free.

The Merengues approached the Reds after the right-back announced his decision to leave once his contract expired.

It was believed that the Spanish capital club would be open to offering a token fee of around €1 million in order to secure their target’s early release.

When will Alexander-Arnold join Real Madrid? (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

However, it is now being suggested that Real Madrid merely asked Liverpool to let Alexander-Arnold for free, hoping that the Premier League champions will relent and let their homegrown star go without any fee.

Alexander-Arnold is understood to have signed a five-year contract at Real Madrid and it is believed that he would be willing to forego his salary for the month of June at Liverpool in case of an early release.

However, Real Madrid appear reluctant to pay any fee to acquire his services in time for the Club World Cup, leaving the ball in Liverpool’s court.

As things stand, if Alexander-Arnold does not arrive ahead of the Club World Cup in USA, he will miss Real Madrid’s group games against Al-Hilal on June 18, Pachuca on June 22 and RB Salzburg on June 27.