"I could have signed for Real Madrid, but I was thinking more about Barcelona"

Manchester United and England legend Wayne Rooney defended Trent Alexander-Arnold's decision to leave for Real Madrid, but said he would not be surprised if the full-back regretted it and ended up staying at Liverpool.

In an article on the 'BBC', the now coach and pundit confessed that in 2010 he did not want to renew with Manchester United and asked to leave on a transfer, with three teams knocking on his door, Chelsea, Real Madrid and Barcelona.

“In my head I was ready to play in Spain and there were talks. A deal with Madrid seemed more possible for a couple of days, but really I was thinking more about Barcelona and how I would fit into a team with Messi, Iniesta, Xavi and Busquets. In the end I stayed at United, but Barcelona had an incredible team and any player would have loved to be there,” said the Englishman.

“Madrid is the same now, with Mbappe, Bellingham and Vinicius, so it's normal that Trent would be attracted to it. Anyone would feel the same. He's been at Liverpool since he was six, but the reality is that most players leave at some point, which is why there are so few 'one club men' like Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher. I wouldn't blame Trent for wanting to do something different, a new challenge in a new country, Spain could be a great move for him,” he said.

Rooney said he does not believe that winning titles is the only reason Alexander-Arnold is leaving, as he has won it all at Liverpool and is weeks away from winning his second Premier League, but he believes the idea of winning different trophies may appeal to him and that the fact that Madrid have his friend Bellingham at Madrid has also made the situation easier.

However, Rooney stressed that nothing has been finalised with Real Madrid yet and that he would not be surprised if the full-back changed his mind and stayed at Liverpool.

“I think what people are upset about is that he is leaving for free, but this is for Liverpool and for Alexander-Arnold as well. We don't know why his contract has been allowed to run out, but it's something Liverpool have already done with Mohamed Salah and Virgil Van Dijk this season and in the past with Roberto Firmino and Georginio Wijnaldum,” he asserted.

“Alexander-Arnold hasn't signed anything with Real Madrid and I wouldn't be surprised if, after all this, he ends up staying at Anfield. A lot of things can happen until a contract is signed, as I know from my experience,” he concluded.