Jamie Carragher breaks silence on Trent Alexander-Arnold's Real Madrid move as his motives questioned

Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher has shared his honest views on Trent Alexander-Arnold's proposed move to Real Madrid.

Real are closing in on the signing of Alexander-Arnold, who is out of contract this summer.

Discussions over the protracted transfer are ongoing ahead of a stunning free transfer before the start of next season.

However, the Spanish giants are prepared to pay a fee to Liverpool so they can sign the right-back before his contract expires.

Liverpool icon Steven Gerrard, who turned down a move to Chelsea during his illustrious career, has weighed in on Alexander-Arnold's proposed switch to Real.

And Carragher, who spent his entire career at Anfield, has had his say, too, as he questioned the player's motives.

He referenced the free transfer and argued a European rivalry with Real and AC Milan should have motivated him to prolong his career with his boyhood club.

Trent Alexander-Arnold in action for Liverpool. Image: Getty

"It seems like there’s not one thing people are unhappy with - it’s leaving on a free or that he should have come out and told the club earlier - people are angry for three or four different things," said Carragher in the latest episode of Stick to Football - brought to you by Sky Bet.

"I’m not angry about him going on a free. In an ideal world, Liverpool would get £70m or £80m for him to reinvest, but you can’t have it both ways as a supporter. If Liverpool sign someone on a free in the summer, we’d all be delighted, so does that mean that his former club should absolutely hate him? Also, when you’re a local player you don’t cost anything - Trent going on a free is like Virgil van Dijk leaving for £75m, we’d still break even.

"Where I’m at is that, as a local player and a Liverpool fan, Liverpool are in a position where they’re competing for the league and a European Cup every year.

"So, if you’re a Liverpool fan and a local player, I’m just disappointed that he doesn’t think that this is it. I’m putting myself in his position, where I’d be thinking that we could go level with Manchester United in league trophies, I’ve got another seven or eight years at Liverpool and want to get three or four ahead of them, with a couple more European Cups.

"We always talk about rivalries and never think of it as European. In some ways, Real Madrid is a rival, and no one will catch them - they are the biggest and most famous team - but I’m desperate for Liverpool to get second on that list - AC Milan are on 7 [European titles]. If I was him, I’d be thinking that we’ve got a great opportunity to win the league this year and could do this and that and at the end of his time, put Liverpool in a position [to top others]."

Asked if Alexander-Arnold is leaving to build his own brand, Carragher replied: "I think Trent is a player who looks at himself almost like a brand, and that’s not just him, a lot of players do now.

"I go back to an interview he gave on Sky Sports before Christmas, where he was given five options on which he’d pick as the most important for you - captain of Liverpool, win the Champions League with Liverpool, win the World Cup with England, or win the Ballon d’Or - and he chose the Ballon d’or. He wanted to be the first full-back that won the Ballon d’Or, and there’s nothing wrong with having ambition, but that didn’t go down particularly well with Liverpool supporters."