I had talks to leave Man Utd and play in Spain – you can’t question Alexander-Arnold’s Real Madrid transfer, says Rooney
WAYNE ROONEY has told Trent Alexander-Arnold: Spain would be a good move for you.
England full-back TAA’s Liverpool contract is up this summer with the 26-year-old set to leave Anfield for Real Madrid.
And Rooney revealed he was also once tempted to make a similar switch.
The ex-England captain and Manchester United forward told BBC Sport: “Because it is Real, I don’t think you could question it as a career move.
“Real are the biggest club in the world.
“It would be a massive opportunity and I’d understand if he felt it was too good to turn down.
“Liverpool are his boyhood club, but sometimes you have to make these decisions.
“When I told Manchester United in 2010 I did not want to sign a new deal and put in a transfer request, Chelsea, Real and Barcelona came in for me.
“I was ready to play in Spain and some talks did take place.
“A deal with Real looked more likely for a couple of days.
“But it was Barcelona I thought about the most and how I might fit into their side alongside Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta, Xavi and Sergio Busquets.
“In the end I decided to stay at United but Barca had an incredible team and any player would have loved to have played in it.
“Real are the same now with Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Jr, so it must be appealing to Alexander-Arnold.
“Spain would be a really good move for him.”
TAA has faced a fans’ backlash over the transfer.
Rooney added: “The fact he would be going on a free transfer has upset them but that is down to Liverpool as well as Alexander-Arnold.”
Referencing his own Merseyside exit, he continued: “It was a completely different situation for me when I left my boyhood club, Everton, to join United in 2004.
What happened to the Englishmen who joined Real Madrid?
TRENT ALEXANDER-ARNOLD looks set to join Real Madrid this summer and will join an exclusive club to pull on the famous white jersey.
So had did those who came before him get on?
LAURIE CUNNINGHAM (1979-1984)
Real Madrid splashed out £950,000 to sign Cunningham from West Brom in 1979.
As one of the “Three Degrees” alongside Cyrille Regis and Brendon Batson, Cunningham had left an unforgettable mark at the Hawthorns.
The left winger became an instant hit in the Spanish capital, scoring twice on his debut.
Cunningham helped his side to the LaLiga title in 1980, and played in the European Cup final against Liverpool the following year.
Following a loan spell with Manchester United, Cunningham moved to Marseille in 1984.
Having played for Leicester, Charleroi and Wimbledon, Cunningham returned to Madrid with Rayo Vallecano in 1988.
The following year he tragically died in a car crash in the city aged just 33.
STEVE MCMANAMAN (1999-2003)
Like Alexander-Arnold is set to, McManaman left boyhood club Liverpool for the bright lights of Madrid in 1999.
A silky winger, McManaman proved to be a hit in Madrid.
The Bernabeu crowd immediately took to their new English hero, with his floppy hair and nonchalant flair.
McManaman helped Real win six trophies in four years, and scored his side’s second goal in their victorious 2000 Champions League final.
He went on to leave Madrid in 2003, spending the final two years of his career with Manchester City.
After hanging up his boots, McManaman worked as a pundit for Setanta Sports, BT Sport and ESPN.
Now 53, he can regularly be seen on TNT Sports’ football coverage, especially when Liverpool or Real Madrid are playing.
DAVID BECKHAM (2003-2007)
In 2003, Real Madrid made Manchester United superstar Beckham their latest Galactico.
Golden Balls joined a squad boasting the likes of Ronaldo, Raul, Zinedine Zidane and Roberto Carlos in the Spanish capital.
Despite his love for high-end fashion and the celebrity lifestyle, Beckham became much beloved in Spain for his incredible work rate, professionalism and of course, quality.
Despite boasting a star-studded squad, the fabled La Decima – a tenth Champions League triumph – eluded Real Madrid during his four-year stint.
He didn’t leave empty-handed, however, winning the LaLiga title in 2007 before leaving for LA Galaxy.
Since Beckham hung up his boots in 2013 he has continued to have several endorsement deals; including the likes of Adidas, Armani, Pepsi and the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Beckham, 49, also owns MLS side Inter Miami, and played a big role in their groundbreaking deal for Lionel Messi in 2023.
MICHAEL OWEN (2004-2005)
Like McManaman before him, Owen quit Liverpool for Real Madrid.
But the former Ballon d’Or winner endured a frustrating season at the Bernabeu, finding himself stuck behind Ronaldo and Raul.
Twelve months on from Owen’s £8million switch, Real Madrid doubled their money by flogging him to Newcastle.
Owen then spent three years with Liverpool’s rivals Man Utd, before one final year at Stoke.
Immediately after hanging up his boots, Owen signed up to be BT Sport’s primary co-commentator upon the channel’s launch.
In addition to his punditry work, the former striker has enjoyed several other ventures.
Owen, 45, has his own clothing range with Peacocks, while he also appeared on The Masked Singer.
JONATHAN WOODGATE (2004-2007)
Woodgate endured one of the most infamous debuts of all time after switching Newcastle for Real Madrid in 2004.
The luckless defender went through injury hell following the £13.4m transfer, having to wait 17 months before playing his first game.
Just 25 minutes in, the England international headed into his own net. Things then got even worse when he was sent off just after the hour mark.
Woodgate played just 14 times that season, before a loan move to Middlesbrough effectively ended his Real Madrid career.
After signing permanently for Boro, Woody earned a move to Tottenham in January 2008. He won the League Cup barely a month later, and remains the last Spurs player to score a winning goal in a cup final.
Following spells with Stoke and back at Middlesbrough, Woodgate retired in 2016.
He has since gone into coaching, managing Boro and Bournemouth.
Woodgate, 45, returned to Middlesbrough once again in 2022, where he works as a first team coach under Michael Carrick.
JUDE BELLINGHAM (2023-present)
England superstar Bellingham sealed a blockbuster £115m transfer from Borussia Dortmund to Real Madrid in the summer of 2023.
The move has been a resounding success, with the midfielder immediately excelling in Spain.
Bellingham scored on his debut, and went on net five times in his first four LaLiga matches.
The image of the 21-year-old with his arms outstretched has quickly become an iconic one.
Birmingham’s finest has already won LaLiga and the Champions League during his young career.
And with Alexander-Arnold soon to be alongside him, Bellingham will feel that he can add plenty more to his already impressive trophy tally.
“I did not want to leave them when I did – I was devastated – but I would have moved on at some point, to try to better myself and win some trophies.
“That’s another reason why Liverpool fans might wonder why Alexander-Arnold might leave now, because he is already doing that with them.
“But, again, it comes back to experiencing a different culture.”
“And Rooney’s old team-mate Rio Ferdinand told Kop fans: “This kid has been one of your best players.
“You should be clapping him off and saying, ‘Well done’.”