Trent Alexander-Arnold dream dashed by little-known rule after Liverpool exit
Trent Alexander-Arnold is now set to become a Real Madrid player after they stumped up £10million to sign him early, but he won't be able to take his Liverpool shirt number with him
The No. 66 shirt Trent Alexander-Arnold has worn his entire club career will not be available for him at Real Madrid. From joining Liverpool as a child to winning the Champions League and two Premier League titles, the right-back has worn the unique number on his back.
It has been announced that Real Madrid have agreed a £10million deal to sign Alexander-Arnold, 26, a month early. This was done to ensure he will be able to compete in the Club World Cup for Xabi Alonso's team.
His deal at Anfield was not due to expire until June 30, but he will be unveiled by the La Liga giants on June 1. However, when he poses with his new Real Madrid shirt, he will not have his familiar No. 66 on the back.
This is because La Liga rules forbid players from wearing a shirt number with anything higher than No. 25 on the back. The only players who can wear numbers that exceed that figure are youth players.
At present, Alexander-Arnold's new defensive colleague Raul Asencio has been permitted to wear the No. 35. Only the numbers No. 12, No. 24 and No. 25 are currently available.
The No. 2 jersey, which is often worn by a side's first-choice right-back, is currently occupied by Real veteran Dani Carvajal. However, the No. 10, No. 17 and No. 18 jerseys, worn by Luka Modric, Lucas Vasquez and Jesus Vallejo, could all become free, as the trio's contracts are expiring this summer.
Modric's exit has already been confirmed, with the ex-Tottenham Hotspur midfielder leaving after the Club World Cup. Alexander-Arnold has agreed a six-year contract that will keep him at the club until 2031.
His deal will also include a mammoth buy-out clause of €1bn (£840m). On May 5, he confirmed that he would be leaving Liverpool at the end of his deal, soon after the Reds won the Premier League.
While his boyhood club weren't expected to receive any compensation due to the Bosman ruling, Liverpool have been able to profit from Real Madrid's desire to include him in the Club World Cup. It's understood that Real Madrid will pay the Merseysiders £8.4m with the total package being worth £10m after paying the defender's salary for the final month of his contract.
He was greeted with a lot of hostility by Liverpool fans when the announcement was made. When he came on from the bench in the Reds' subsequent 2-2 draw against Arsenal, boos and jeers were audible around Anfield.
On the final game of the campaign, when Liverpool drew 1-1 with Crystal Palace, the reception Alexander-Arnold got was improved. As he said goodbye to the supporters, he was overcome with emotion and could be seen crying with his family on the pitch.
He will have some time to get to know some of his new surroundings before he makes his debut. On June 18, Real Madrid face Al-Hilal in the group stage of the Club World Cup, before further clashes against Pachuca and Red Bull Salzburg.
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