At the moment, Trent Alexander-Arnold’s future at Liverpool is unclear. His contract expires on June 30, 2025, and as negotiations to extend it appear to have failed, he may look for free agency. Several elite clubs are showing interest in him because he is one of the best right-backs in the world.

Real Madrid is reportedly in a favorable position to pursue Trent Alexander-Arnold, especially following Dani Carvajal’s injury, which has left Lucas Vázquez as the only natural right-back. This situation has prompted discussions between Real Madrid and Alexander-Arnold to explore potential agreements.

If Alexander-Arnold does not renew his contract with Liverpool, Madrid could secure him at a reduced price during the winter transfer window or potentially sign him as a free agent next July.

However, while Alexander-Arnold is open to the idea of joining Real Madrid, he may be leaning towards FC Barcelona, which is also seeking to bolster its right-back options. Despite Jules Koundé’s strong performances, he does not align perfectly with the typical right-back role, making Alexander-Arnold an attractive option for the Catalan club as well.

Alexander-Arnold’s affinity for Barcelona has been stoked by his remarks in a 2022 interview with “GQ,” in which he mentioned his childhood love for Messi and the legendary Barça team as well as the club’s similar ideals with Liverpool.

Furthermore, his inclination was further shown by a recent TikTok game. Many speculated about Messi’s preference for Barça after Alexander-Arnold voted him the best player in a matchup between him and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Whether his affinity for Barcelona will affect his possible transfer is still up in the air. Although Barcelona hasn’t been as strongly linked to Alexander-Arnold as Madrid, there’s always a potential they might enter the race because players frequently end up at teams they didn’t initially support. Time will tell.