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'I couldn't believe it' - How Trent Alexander-Arnold stunned Gary Neville during three-hour interview

-Credit: (Image: Sky Sports)
-Credit: (Image: Sky Sports)


Gary Neville has admitted he couldn't believe how much Trent Alexander-Arnold knew about the history of football when the pair met last year.

The former Manchester United defender revealed in the latest Stick to Football podcast brought to you by Sky Bet that he interviewed the Liverpool right-back in 2023, and was surprised by what he heard while in conversation with the 25-year-old.

Neville said: "I interviewed him for two or three hours... I was stunned. I was mesmerised by the fact by the fact that, you know, you look at someone and you think he's a brilliant player but then you look at him... I've been critical of him in defense, you (Roy Keane) have been critical of him in defense, you (Jamie Carragher) said he shouldn't play in midfield, and you (Roy Keane) said he shouldn't play in midfield.

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"I could not believe how much he knew about football historically in the last 20-25 years and how many games he's watched and how into it he was. Maybe I shouldn't be surprised but I couldn't believe it. He was asking loads of questions, he was dead inquisitive, that's what I think I was like (as a young player). He didn't want to stop talking about football."

Neville also touched on the comments he made during the European Championship, when the Sky Sports pundit said it was "illegal" that Gareth Southgate could not find room for Alexander-Arnold in England's team.

Neville added: "It was something that hit me during the summer about the misuse of England players... I said it's illegal that Trent Alexander-Arnold is not playing for England... it's illegal, honestly. If we have a player that can do what he can do, and we can't get him into our team, we have got a massive problem. It's a massive problem."