David Beckham and Michael Owen both sent positives messages to prior to his leave in the summer. The talented right-back, who came through the Anfield academy system, has become a modern-day legend for the club, amassing multiple trophies during his time in the first-team.

broke into the starting eleven under in 2016 and has since made 352 appearances for the Reds, scoring 23 goals and lifting eight major honours - including two titles and the .

The reigning winner's status at Liverpool has been under question the entire season, with Alexander-Arnold's contract due to run out in the summer - much like and .

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However, while keeping them under leadership until 2027, Alexander-Arnold has opted to seek a "new challenge" elsewhere.

The 26-year-old has been throughout the season, with News understanding that a free transfer to the Spanish giants is the expected direction of travel.

Two Premier League icons who have also made the move from England to Spain have chimed in with their thoughts previously, as legend Beckham once compared the young Alexander-Arnold to himself in his style of play.

While appearing on the , Beckham - who moved from United to Madrid in 2003 for £31million - praised the right-back's skillset, and compared it to his own when it came to delivery and passing.

"I suppose if there was one player where I look at and I think, 'he's very similar in the way he delivers the ball, he's very similar in the way he crosses the ball or passes', it has to be Trent," he said in October last year.

"In all honesty, I think he's an unbelievable [player] - his vision, he's unbelievable. And he's an exceptional player, but when I look at a player and I think I see myself in the way he puts the ball in, what he sees in the long balls that he plays, you know he plays balls that some players don't even think about and that's what I love about him as a player."

Another Liverpool icon who made the move to Madrid - albeit for an £8m fee in 2004 - is Owen, who won the famed Ballon d'Or while shining at Anfield.

The talented striker, who made 216 appearances for Liverpool and scored 118 goals, previously gave his thoughts on a potential move from England to Spain for Alexander-Arnold - and claimed it would be the right decision so long as the player was the one who made it off his own merit.

Speaking in December 2024, Owen reflected on his own career moves and stated that the right-back needs to be strong in whatever choice he makes, as he'll have to live with it "forever".

The ex-Red said: "There's no good or bad decision really. The only good or bad decision is the after time, in 10 years. That's the only reason you'll ever say it is a good or bad decision. Whereas when you live it, it's that way. I decided that at the time and I can't change it.

"From Trent's point of view, he'll make his decision based on all the facts in front of him, and that will be the right thing for him at this time. That's what he'll have to live with forever, and I'm sure he'll be comfortable with that. If other people have this opinion in the future, as I say, these after-timers, then, whatever. Just whatever. It doesn't matter."

Now, as the news breaks that Alexander-Arnold has decided to leave his boyhood club, it seems that this choice wasn't something that was easy to come by, as he penned a tearful farewell to the place he spent over two decades living the dream.

In his exit statement, the Anfield stalwart said: "I think first and foremost, I want to say it’s not an easy decision and there’s a lot of thought and feeling that has gone into it. I’ve been here 20 years now, loved every single minute of it, achieved all my dreams, achieved everything I’ve ever wanted to here.

"Giving everything day in, day out for 20 years, I’ve got to a point now where I feel like I need a new change, a new challenge for me as a player and as a person. And I think now is the right time for me to do that."

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