John Barnes doubts that Trent Alexander-Arnold has a bright future at Real Madrid. The former Liverpool player even believes that the young England right-back has a better chance of winning the Golden Ball at the Reds than at the Casa Blanca.
For many, signing for Real Madrid represents the ultimate career achievement. But for Liverpool legend John Barnes, such a move could put the brakes on Trent Alexander-Arnold’s personal ambitions, particularly his chances of winning the Ballon d’Or. Indeed, in a statement reported by the Daily Mail, Barnes did not mince his words and advised the England full-back against joining Real Madrid at the end of the season.
‘Trent has a better chance of winning the Ballon d’Or at Liverpool than at Real Madrid. There, he won’t be Mbappé, Vinicius Junior or Bellingham. He’ll just be a right-back,’ he began. Barnes’ analysis raises a central point: at Real Madrid, the spotlight is often on the strikers and attacking midfielders. Kylian Mbappé, Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham are the epitome of these figureheads. In such an environment, Alexander-Arnold could struggle to make his mark, despite his immense talent.
Barnes also believes that Real Madrid’s style of play is not necessarily suited to Alexander-Arnold. ‘Even if he becomes an important player there, he might not shine as much as he did at Liverpool,’ he continued. This remark is not insignificant. Liverpool offers the English defender a system that is perfectly suited to his attacking qualities, whether as a decisive passer or as a playmaker in the back. Under Jürgen Klopp, for example, Alexander-Arnold has benefited from a central role that maximises his impact’.
The examples of players such as Georginio Wijnaldum and Roberto Firmino, whose careers lost their lustre after leaving Liverpool, illustrate the risks of changing clubs. ‘And I think a lot of Liverpool players will understand what I’m talking about – look at Wijnaldum, Firmino, Henderson. Everyone who’s left [for new teams] hasn’t done as well. In footballing terms, there’s no other club that suits Trent better than Liverpool, but that’s not necessarily enough to convince him to stay,’ he added.
Liverpool, an ideal environment for Alexander-Arnold according to Barnes
For Barnes, there is no doubt that staying at Liverpool is the best choice for Alexander-Arnold. He explains that the prestige of a club like Real Madrid does not necessarily guarantee individual success. ‘In footballing terms, there is no club better suited to Trent than Liverpool. With the Reds, Alexander-Arnold plays a key role. He is not just a cog in the machine, but a key player. He has a direct influence on his team’s results, an essential factor in the race for the Ballon d’Or.
At Real Madrid, despite the prestige, it would be difficult for him to compete for attention with team-mates like Bellingham or Vinicius. Barnes concludes with a question that sums up the dilemma perfectly: ‘How can he win the Ballon d’Or ahead of Bellingham, Mbappé and Vinicius Junior? The choice is far from simple: will he opt for continuity and a tailor-made environment at the Reds, or will he try his luck in Madrid and reach new collective heights?
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