Trent Alexander-Arnold, at 26, is no ordinary footballer. A Scouser born and bred, he’s been with Liverpool since the age of six, rising through the academy to become one of the world’s premier right-backs. His vision, pinpoint passing, and clutch performances have earned him every major trophy with the club, including the 2019 Champions League and the 2020 Premier League, ending a 30-year wait for the latter.
Yet, with his contract set to expire in June 2025 and no extension signed, speculation about a free transfer to Real Madrid has reached fever pitch.
The rumors have not sat well with many Liverpool fans. The comparisons to club legends like Steven Gerrard, who famously stayed loyal, and Roberto Firmino, whose emotional 2023 departure was seen as a model exit, have only intensified the scrutiny.
Against this backdrop, Trent’s latest appearance with Firmino’s book while coming to training got fans talking.
Si Senor: My Liverpool Years is Firmino’s love letter to his eight-year tenure at Anfield, detailing his journey from a £29m signing to a cult hero who embodied Jürgen Klopp’s heavy-metal football.
Image of TAA carrying the book got people thinking if this was his way of showing that Bobby left on a free transfer from Liverpool and was adored and that he should be too –
I think he’s trying to prove a point by carrying it, because Bobby left on a free. Obviously those two situations are wildly different.
Firmino, who joined Liverpool in 2015, became the heartbeat of Klopp’s front three alongside Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mané. His selfless play, dazzling skill, and infectious grin made him a fan favorite, and his 2023 exit to Al-Ahli was handled with dignity. His departure was marked by tearful goodbyes and a standing ovation after his final game.
Firmino’s exit came at 31, after his physical peak, when Liverpool chose not to renew his contract. He left as a free agent, but only after giving his all, with no whispers of disloyalty. Trent, by contrast, is in his prime, and the perception that he’s choosing Real Madrid over Liverpool stings.
Another section of Liverpool fans think this is Trent’s way of showing that he loves that club as much as Firmino if not more and he’s staying despite the confirmation of Real Madrid transfer from sources like Fabrizio Romano –
I have gut feeling he may stay….i hope im right. He needs to wake up
The fact that the bag he was carrying also had Steven Gerrard’s My Story got fans even more curious.
If you were to ask me if I was reading into the fact Trent Alexander-Arnold has Steven Gerrards book in the bag in this photo, that @LFC have uploaded.. you would be absolutely correct
— Jess M (@JessMcCleary1) April 10, 2025#lfc #ynwa pic.twitter.com/vyn66GJBl7
But the most plausible theory seems to be that this was a PR stunt, a marketing move to promote the local bookstore Pritchard’s Bookshop –
Unfortunately it is a post to promote shopping local and the bookshop on the bag is the local shop they are highlighting. It has nothing to do what he is actually reading or anything else.
As Liverpool chase a Premier League title under Arne Slot, currently leading the table by 11 points, Trent remains sidelined by a high ankle sprain from a March defeat to Paris Saint-Germain. His absence has only heightened the focus on his future. Will he return to Anfield’s pitch as a hero or a villain? The Sí Señor moment suggests he’s reflecting on his Liverpool story, but whether it’s a prelude to a heartfelt goodbye or a defiant stand remains unclear.
