Trent Alexander-Arnold never imagined that the most difficult chapter of his football life would begin the moment he decided to walk away from Liverpool. For more than twenty years, Anfield was his home. It was where he grew up, where he learned the game, where he became a man, and where he rose from a quiet academy boy into one of the most influential right-backs football has ever seen. But football has a way of turning dreams into hard lessons, and since leaving Liverpool for Real Madrid, Trent Alexander-Arnold has found himself stuck in a strange and uncomfortable place, caught between regret, ambition, and uncertainty.
When Trent finally confirmed his decision to leave Liverpool, the reaction was explosive. This was not just any player leaving a club. This was a local boy, a Scouser through and through, someone many fans believed would retire in red. For years, he spoke about Liverpool with love and pride. He spoke about the badge, the history, the responsibility of wearing the shirt. So when he chose Real Madrid, many fans felt betrayed. To them, it felt like he had turned his back on everything he once stood for
The move itself was meant to be the ultimate step forward. Real Madrid is the biggest club in the world, a place where legends are made and remembered forever. Trent believed he was ready for that challenge. He believed his passing range, creativity, and intelligence would fit perfectly into Madrid’s system. He believed that playing alongside superstars and competing for the biggest trophies every season would elevate him to another level. But football does not always follow the script players imagine in their heads.
From the very beginning, Trent’s life in Spain has been far from smooth. Injuries interrupted his rhythm early on. Competition for places was fierce. Real Madrid already had established stars, and adapting to a new league, a new language, and a new football culture proved harder than expected. Minutes became limited. Confidence dipped. Instead of becoming a guaranteed starter, Trent found himself fighting just to stay relevant.
The moment that hurt Liverpool fans the most came earlier this season when Liverpool met Real Madrid in the Champions League. Trent only played nine minutes in that match, but the reaction from the Anfield crowd was loud and clear. Boos rained down when he touched the ball. It was a painful reminder that, for many supporters, the wounds were still fresh. The same fans who once sang his name now saw him as a symbol of abandonment. That night showed just how deep the emotional connection between Trent and Liverpool had been, and how badly it had been damaged.
Statistically, his time at Real Madrid has not gone the way he hoped. He managed his first assist in a La Liga match against Athletic Club in early December 2025, a moment that briefly suggested things might be turning around. But after that, the spark faded again. In his next ten appearances, there were no goals, no assists, and no defining performances. For a player known for changing games with his passing and delivery, that silence has been deafening.
This drop-off is even more concerning because this is a World Cup year. National team places are not guaranteed. England managers look closely at form, confidence, and consistency. At Liverpool, Trent was delivering double-digit goal contributions almost every season. Last year alone, he provided 14 goal contributions as Liverpool pushed their way to the Premier League title. He ended his Liverpool career with an astonishing 92 assists, numbers that place him among the most creative defenders in football history. At Real Madrid, that influence has disappeared.
As January arrived, speculation exploded. Could Trent already be looking for a way out? Could Real Madrid be open to letting him leave? And most controversially of all, could Manchester City be a possible destination?
The idea of Trent Alexander-Arnold joining Manchester City feels like football heresy to many Liverpool fans. City are not just rivals. They are the rivals of the modern era. Under Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp, the two clubs pushed each other to breaking point in some of the most intense title races English football has ever seen. Margins were tiny. Emotions ran high. Every win and loss felt like a battle.
For a former Liverpool academy player, especially one as symbolic as Trent, moving to the Etihad Stadium would be seen by many as unforgivable. It would pour salt into an already open wound. Fans who were hoping one day for reconciliation would likely turn their backs for good.
Yet football insiders began whispering. Pep Guardiola admires intelligent footballers. City love technical players who can control games from deep positions. Trent’s passing range, vision, and ability to dictate tempo fit Guardiola’s philosophy perfectly. On paper, it makes sense. In reality, it would be chaos.
Journalist Alex Crook addressed the rumours on the Transfer Insiders podcast, and his words added an important layer of clarity. According to Crook, people inside Manchester City were quick to play down the story. The message he received was not that it was impossible, but that it was not something actively being pursued. Still, the door was not completely closed.
Crook admitted that Trent would actually be a fantastic signing for City. That alone is enough to make Liverpool fans uncomfortable. Guardiola has a habit of taking good players and making them even better. If Trent were to rediscover his confidence and form under Pep, it would be a painful sight for those at Anfield.
But there is also the emotional side. Crook made it clear that a move to City would do nothing to repair Trent’s broken relationship with Liverpool supporters. In fact, it would likely destroy it beyond repair. Any hope of forgiveness, any idea of welcoming him back one day, would vanish instantly.
Interestingly, many Liverpool fans are deeply divided. Some believe Trent deserves another chance. They argue that everyone makes mistakes. They point out that he is still a Scouser, still someone who loves the club deep down. They see Liverpool struggling, especially during a difficult January window where no first-team signings have arrived, and they wonder whether letting someone like Trent go was part of a bigger decline.
Others are less forgiving. To them, football is about loyalty. Trent chose his path. He made his decision. Now he must live with the consequences. The idea of him wearing sky blue feels like betrayal on top of betrayal.
The wider context only adds to the drama. Liverpool are not the fortress they once were. Performances have been inconsistent. Draws feel scraped rather than earned. Anfield no longer intimidates opponents the way it used to. Fans sense a club searching for direction, and that uncertainty makes stories like Trent’s even more painful.
Meanwhile, Manchester City remain relentless. Even when injuries hit, even when players are missing, they continue to operate like a machine. The possibility of them picking up a player of Trent’s quality, especially one desperate to prove himself again, feels unfair to many rival fans.
From Trent’s perspective, the situation is deeply personal. He did not leave Liverpool to become a bench player. He did not leave to fade into the background. He left to test himself at the very highest level. Right now, that gamble looks shaky. Confidence is fragile. Public criticism is loud. Every rumour feels heavier because it carries the weight of his past decisions.
A move away from Spain might genuinely help him. A return to familiar surroundings, familiar football rhythms, and a league that understands him could unlock the player everyone knows he can be. But the question is where. A return to Liverpool feels impossible at the moment. A move to City feels explosive. Other clubs may not offer the same platform or ambition he desires.
As things stand, Manchester City sources are playing it cool. There is no rush, no confirmed pursuit, no active negotiations. But in football, especially modern football, things can change quickly. One injury, one tactical shift, one private conversation can turn whispers into headlines.
What is clear is that Trent Alexander-Arnold stands at a crossroads. His Liverpool chapter is closed, but its shadow still follows him everywhere. His Real Madrid adventure has yet to truly begin, and time is running out for him to turn it around. Manchester City lurk in the background, not fully committed, but not fully dismissive either.
For Liverpool fans, the story is painful. For City fans, it is intriguing. For Trent himself, it is probably exhausting. He wanted progression. He wanted glory. Instead, he finds himself surrounded by questions, doubts, and what-ifs.
Football careers are defined by moments. Sometimes by goals and trophies. Other times by decisions. The decision to leave Liverpool changed everything for Trent Alexander-Arnold. Whether the next decision saves his career or deepens the regret remains to be seen.
