LIVERPOOL’S departing star Trent Alexander-Arnold told manager Arne Slot he is leaving Anfield back in March.
Alexander-Arnold, 26, announced today he will be exiting the Reds in June when his contract expires after 21 stunning years at the club.
Trent Alexander-Arnold told Liverpool boss Arne Slot he is leaving in March
According to The Athletic, however, the full-back’s mind was made up two months ago during the international break.
The England international wasn’t included in Thomas Tuchel’s first ever squad due to an ankle injury and instead he held showdown talks with Slot, 46, in his office at the Kirkby training complex.
That was when TAA told the Dutch tactician that he will leave Liverpool as he needed to step out of his comfort zone and pursue a new challenge.
Slot expressed his disappointment but respected decision telling him: “You’re a huge part of this team and let’s end it on a high together.”
The ex-Feyenoord boss reassured him he will feature in his plans once he was fit, which delighted Alexander Arnold who promised: “My mindset and commitment won’t change. I’ll continue to give everything for this club until the final day.”
It was around the same time when the right-back’s representative formally informed the Merseysiders’ sporting director Richard Hughes that his client wouldn’t be signing a new contract.
Hughes wasn’t surprised as talks over an extension had effectively ended earlier that month.
Alexander-Arnold decided to keep the whole situation under wraps as he didn’t want the focus to shift from the team’s bid to win their 20th league title.
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Questions have risen as to why the Liverpool academy graduate is leaving as a free agent.
The same source claims the defender expected the club to open talks before the start of the 2023-24 season, but that never happened.
A major upheaval followed behind the scenes as then sporting director Julian Ward stepped down just a year after succeeding Michael Edwards.
Liverpool gave the job to Jorg Schmadtke on an interim basis but he didn’t prioritise contract renewals.
Trent’s situation got even more complicated in November 2023 when then manager Jurgen Klopp stunned the entire club to its core by announcing his departure at the end of the season.
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