Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville clash after 'insulting' Trent Alexander-Arnold Liverpool approach
Gary Neville has described Real Madrid's approach for Trent Alexander-Arnold as 'insulting' to Liverpool in an exchange with Jamie Carragher. The two Sky Sports pundits were at loggerheads over how the offer from the Spanish giants came ahead of the Reds' clash with Manchester United.
The 26-year-old featured in the 2-2 draw with the Red Devils on Sunday but suffered against Ruben Amorim's side after he was targeted, as well as giving the ball away in the build-up to Lisandro Martinez's opener. Alexander-Arnold's uncharacteristic sloppiness against United was detrimental to the Reds and resulted in criticism from both Carragher and former United midfielder Roy Keane.
Real Madrid launched a surprise transfer offensive for the full-back offering £20million for an early Reds exit, which was subsequently rejected, despite his contract set to expire at the end of the season. The interest comes amid intense speculation from English and Spanish media over his future.
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He netted in the 5-0 rout over West Ham United and seemingly poured cold water on reports of an exit, days after reports from Marca suggested he expressed his desire to leave Liverpool. Speaking after the 2-2 draw on Sunday, Carragher and Neville were split on how the initial interest from Carlo Ancelotti's side was sparked.
Here is the full transcript of their exchange.
Gary Neville: "The bid for Real Madrid is bad timing for him, now I don't know what's going to happen with Trent Alexander-Arnold whether he's going to leave Liverpool or not but if you've got that going into a big game, you're a local lad as well, that won't be easy with that distraction. Manchester United are an animal, I thought it was insulting from Real Madrid, they do that sometimes they think they can get what they want. Liverpool are a club of immense stature, they're never going to sell you Trent Alexander-Arnold for £20million in January, they're taking the mickey a little bit. That's probably unnerved him a little, you can imagine his family, his agents, all saying, 'what's going on?' you can imagine that noise - which I don't think would've been helpful."
Jamie Carragher: "Yeah but they knew what was happening."
Gary Neville: "We've just done a podcast where he thinks Trent's people invited the bid from Real Madrid, I think that's a big suggestion personally."
Jamie Carragher: "We're not naïve enough to think Real Madrid would put a bid in for a player in January for a player for nothing in four months. Do you seriously believe they're sat at home and it comes through on Sky Sports, 'wow'. Of course they do."
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Gary Neville: "Why do Trent Alexander-Arnold's people think it's a good idea for him knowing Liverpool are going to say no?"
Jamie Carragher: "Because he's getting criticism that he might leave for free now if Real Madrid put a bid in in January and Liverpool don't accept, maybe they can say, 'well you were offered £30million to £40million', for me it was to buy a little bit of time if he goes for free, they can say Liverpool were offered £20m, £30m to £40m."
