Jamie Carragher slams Trent Alexander-Arnold's 'strange' claim in Liverpool rant
Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher believes Trent Alexander-Arnold is set to leave the club at the end of the season and join Real Madrid after comments he made about the Ballon d'Or
by Matthew Cooper · The MirrorJamie Carragher has branded Trent Alexander-Arnold's claim he would rather win the Ballon d'Or than the World Cup or another Champions League "strange".
Carragher also suggested it is a sign that the Liverpool star is plotting a move to Real Madrid on a free transfer when his contract expires at the end of the season. In an interview with Sky Sports, Alexander-Arnold was asked to choose between winning another Champions League title, winning a trophy with England, becoming Liverpool captain or winning the Ballon d'Or.
"Winning a World Cup with England – that would be immense and change the game, but I'd say win a Ballon d'Or, because I believe I can," Alexander-Arnold replied. "I want to be the first full-back to ever do it.
"It's only the morning after you retire that you're able to look at yourself in the mirror and say you've given it everything you have got. It doesn't matter how many trophies you win or medals you have got, it matters about what you have given to the game and if you reach your full potential.
"I've heard potential being thrown around with my name since the age of six. If you reach that potential and you know you have and you've given everything to maximise that potential and be the player you believe you can be, which is one of the best ever, then you'll be happy.
"It doesn't matter how many trophies you win, I guess. Do I have the potential to be that? For sure. I believe it. Some people may call me deluded but I believe I can."
And when asked about Alexander-Arnold's comments after Liverpool's 2-2 draw with Arsenal, Carragher told Sky Sports: "He can try and win the Ballon d'Or, there's nothing wrong with ambition, but my first thought when I read that was 'you're not winning the Ballon d'Or as a right-back for Liverpool'.
"Ballon d'Or winners normally play for Real Madrid or Barcelona. That's where the best players in the world go. If that's his ultimate ambition, I think he was asked about winning the Champions League, the World Cup or the Ballon d'Or.
"And he chose the Ballon d'Or, which I think is a bit strange or bizarre. I think you would always pick the World Cup or the Champions League, it's a team game, but he has got massive ambition and why not?
"You only get one career. He is a unique full-back, he's absolutely amazing and got Liverpool back into the game today with the pass. But the first thing that came to me when I read that interview is that I think he is going to Real Madrid."
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