Michael Owen revealed on Tuesday that Trent Alexander-Arnold’s signing to Real Madrid is nearly confirmed, citing the Spanish club’s official interest as the deciding factor. This comment did not sit well with the Liverpool fanbase.
Multiple sources, including Fabrizio Romano, reported that Real Madrid offered Liverpool around £15 million, but the Premier League side rejected it.
Reacting to the news, Owen, a former Ballon d’Or winner, wrote on X (formerly Twitter): “If he was going to sign a contract extension, Madrid wouldn’t have officially made their move. Secretive talks will have taken place. Huge news.”
The very fact that Real Madrid have now made their intentions clear towards signing Trent Alexander Arnold leads me to believe that it’s only a matter of time before he signs for them. If he was going to sign a contract extension, Madrid wouldn’t have officially made their move.…
— Michael Owen (@themichaelowen) December 31, 2024
Alexander-Arnold has stayed silent on the matter and continues to feature in the Liverpool team, having also scored in their last outing—a 5-0 win away at West Ham United.
Liverpool fans, however, are understandably upset. Alexander-Arnold is a hometown hero who has won the hearts of every single Liverpool fan since making his debut in 2016.
Owen’s comments have enraged a section of Liverpool fans online, who didn’t hold back while criticizing their former striker.
“You would know all about deserting your boyhood club”
Almost all pundits have had their say on Alexander-Arnold’s increasingly likely transfer to Real Madrid in La Liga. But why did Owen, in particular, get targeted by the majority?
That’s because he, too, left Liverpool for Real Madrid at the peak of his career.
“You would know all about deserting your boyhood club. Maybe you should let Trent know how that went for your career?” a fan wrote under his post.
You would know all about deserting your boyhood club. Maybe you should let Trent know how that went for your career?
— 🥩SirBeef (@Sir_BeefWelly) December 31, 2024
“Or he takes one look at you and sees you can’t step foot in this city without getting a pasting and thinks, imagine being him,” another wrote, reminding Owen that many consider him unwelcome in Liverpool.
Or he takes one look at you and see’s you can’t step foot in this city without getting a pasting and thinks imagine being him
— Kieo (@kieomusic) December 31, 2024
Owen scored 158 goals in 298 games for the Reds, but he wanted a bigger challenge—exactly what Alexander-Arnold is reported to be seeking—and moved to the Bernabeu in 2004.
Of course, it was a move that didn’t work out, and despite scoring 16 goals in his debut season in Spain, he came back to the Premier League a year later with Newcastle.
To make matters worse and land him in even hotter water with Liverpool supporters, Owen joined Manchester United, Liverpool’s sworn rivals, in 2009 and appeared for them in over 50 games, even winning the Premier League title for them.
Liverpool fans likely felt a sense of déjà vu, seeing Alexander-Arnold, their bright young star, reportedly linked to Real Madrid, much like Owen did all those years ago.
