Jude Bellingham breaks silence on Trent Alexander-Arnold to Real Madrid with clear verdict

Jude Bellingham has shrugged off questions about Trent Alexander-Arnold’s future amid suggestions the Liverpool right-back could join him at Real Madrid next summer. Alexander-Arnold joins Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah as the Reds’ high-profile trio who are out of contract at the end of the season.

He has been linked with a blockbuster switch to Real, who strutted their stuff in the free agent market this summer with the capture of Kylian Mbappe.

Bellingham’s presence at the Bernabeu has intensified speculation, given the England team-mates’ close friendship fuelled links to Liverpool before he left Borussia Dortmund for the Spanish capital in 2023.

The Real No. 5 was unsurprisingly questioned about Alexander-Arnold’s future ahead of tomorrow night’s mouth-watering Champions League clash at Anfield.

But he refused to be drawn to the speculation, instead wishing his close pal well beyond their highly-anticipated meeting on Merseyside.

“He’s a Liverpool player, and it’s disrespectful to come to his home today before a big game and to speak about something that could be misconstrued,” Bellingham explained.

“So it’s important to take that pressure off him. I want him to do really well normally. Just not tomorrow night.”

Carlo Ancelotti has returned to the outskirts of Stanley Park after his brief stint as Everton boss from 2019 to 2021.

Alexander-Arnold’s name was also brought up during the Real manager’s press conference, but he remained just as coy on his future.

He said: “I can’t think about Alexander-Arnold, he’s not my player. I have a good memory of Everton, and I consider Liverpool with my usual respect. A fantastic club and supporters. But I’m still an Evertonian!”

Bellingham was tipped to join Alexander-Arnold at Liverpool last summer, and he has hinted that the Reds were among the clubs he held talks with as he pondered his next move.

However, he insists that once the opportunity to join Ancelotti at Real emerged, his transfer decision was a no-brainer.

“It wasn’t as close as a lot of the media made out [a transfer to Liverpool]. I had a conversation with few clubs when leaving Dortmund,” Bellingham added.

“All the clubs I spoke to were very respectful of me and my family. But when Real Madrid come knocking on the door, it shakes the whole house.”

Liverpool enter matchday five atop the Champions League table, having won all four of their opening fixtures as part of a dream start to Arne Slot’s reign.

Real have endured contrasting fortunes and are slumped in 19th, six points behind Liverpool, having lost two of their first four matches.