Alexander-Arnold will be a Real Madrid player next season, that much is certain, but what is still unclear is whether the player will be available for the Club World Cup. Although the club is taking it in stride and is confident that it will have the player right away, the truth is that Liverpool is not making it easy to facilitate the player’s departure ahead of schedule.
Alexander-Arnold and his future at Real Madrid
The English full-back’s contract expires on June 30 with Liverpool, at which point he will become a Real Madrid player. With his signing, the club strengthens its right-back position, which has suffered this season with the injury of Dani Carvajal and the poor performance of Lucas Vázquez. The proven England international will fill an important need at the club. He is a player who does not particularly stand out defensively, but offensively he offers guarantees to carry the weight of Real Madrid’s right wing, with a great shot—both on the run and from set pieces—and great ability to get into the box.
The signing of Alexander-Arnold represents a leap in quality for the squad, and with the return of Dani Carvajal, who will take time to regain his best form, Real Madrid has secured two high-quality players to face a championship that undoubtedly promises to be very demanding.
Club World Cup danger
But Real Madrid wants to incorporate the Englishman into the team as soon as possible. The Premier League, like LaLiga, ends this weekend, and the club’s idea is for him to report to Xabi Alonso as soon as possible so he can adapt to the team and prepare for the Club World Cup.
However, his participation in the Club World Cup will not be easy. Although FIFA has opened a transfer window for participating teams (or rather, brought forward the transfer window, which normally opens on July 1), the English player’s case is different. The player will join Real Madrid on a free transfer when his contract expires on June 30 (he would join on July 1), and by then, the team will be immersed in the Club World Cup. It seemed that there would be no major problem for Liverpool to release a player who has spent his entire life at the club, but they do not seem willing to do so. Although it is a symbolic figure, around €2 million, that is what the English club is asking for to release the player early. The truth is that Liverpool will no longer have any commitments once the Premier League is over, but they want to get something back after learning that they will lose one of their biggest stars at no cost.
At Real Madrid, to date, they are acting calmly, there is tranquility. No talks have been initiated with the English team, and they hope to resolve the situation without having to pay money for the transfer. They are confident that the club and the player can reach an amicable agreement so that he can wear white as soon as possible.
But the truth is that, as things stand, Alexander-Arnold will not be available for the Club World Cup if Real Madrid does not pay, and we will have to wait until July 1 for him to pull on the jersey as a new player for the team. The issue must be resolved in the coming days, and Real Madrid will have to decide whether it is willing to pay the amount Liverpool is asking for in order to have the player available for the Club World Cup.