TRENT ALEXANDER-ARNOLD has revealed Jude Bellingham told him Real Madrid was “incredible” before he decided to leave Liverpool for the Bernabeu this summer.
The England star came through the youth ranks at his boyhood club and spent 21 years on Merseyside, winning two Premier League titles and the Champions League.
But Alexander-Arnold decided to join Madrid on a free transfer at the end of the 2024-25 season, which led to anger from Liverpool fans.
They booed the right-back in his final games for Liverpool amid fury that an academy product was running down his contract to join a European rival.
Liverpool ended up getting £10million for the player after Madrid decided to sign him before his Reds deal ended to allow him to play in the Club World Cup.
But there was still anger from the fanbase after watching Alexander-Arnold speak fluent Spanish in his unveiling press conference.
The 27-year-old has spoken about what persuaded him to make the move and said Bellingham’s gushing praise of the club during England camps played a part.
Speaking to Amazon Prime Video Sport, he said: “There was a lot of speculation… the ‘agent Jude’ stuff. It was more so in his first season (at Real Madrid).
“We’d meet up at England camps and everyone would want to know what it was like behind the scenes (at Real Madrid)… he said it was incredible, and he’d never seen anything like it.
“The drive from the whole club, to win and the expectation to win. He talked so highly of the club, and I’d made my mind up at the end of the day.
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“I needed a change for me. I wanted a new challenge on and off the pitch.”
Elsewhere in the interview, Alexander-Arnold also said he still loved Liverpool despite animosity towards him from supporters.
He said: “Whatever way I’m received, is the decision of the fans. I’ll always love the club, I’ll always be a fan of the club.
“I’ll always be thankful for the opportunities and the things we achieved together… they’ll live with me forever.
“No matter what, my feeling won’t change towards Liverpool. I’ve got memories there that will last me a lifetime, and no matter how I’m received, that won’t change.”
Bellingham and Alexander-Arnold were both in the squad as Madrid thumped Valencia 4-0 this weekend.
Bellingham was on the scoresheet to score their third goal of the game as he played the full 90 minutes.
Alexander-Arnold, however, was an unusued substitute on the day after being dropped by manager Xabi Alonso.
He has only made two starts in La Liga this season and has also struggled with a hamstring injury that kept him out for six games.
