Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold has been one of the stories of Euro 2024 so far.
Unfortunately for the 25-year-old though, much of what has been said about his performances for England has not been kind.
Put to work in a new, midfield role by manager Gareth Southgate, Alexander-Arnold has been heavily criticised for the football he has produced.
In times like these it’s imperative that the Liverpool academy graduate has good people around him. Back home at Anfield, Alexander-Arnold is appreciated and loved by the fans and his teammates alike.
With England, things are slightly different. However, it’s clear that Alexander-Arnold has still found himself a very good friend in the national team camp.
Trent Alexander-Arnold made Jude Bellingham attempt
Although he is one of the country’s best players, Alexander-Arnold has never really been treated as such with England.
Despite that, it’s clear that the Liverpool No.66 has plenty of support from within the squad itself. Bukayo Saka recently raved about Alexander-Arnold’s ability, for example.
While Saka may be a good friend though, it’s clear that Trent’s best buddy at England is Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham.
Anthony Gordon recently revealed that you will very rarely see one without the other at the Three Lions’ Euro 2024 camp.
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Now, former Liverpool player Conor Coady has backed that up. Speaking about his experience with England at the 2022 World Cup, Coady has claimed that both Alexander-Arnold and Jordan Henderson openly tried to get Bellingham to join Liverpool.
“I think Hendo and Trent tried with Jude at the World Cup, I do, 100 percent,” the 31-year-old told BBC 5 Live Sport.
“They man marked the life out of him. I think those two tried it and to be fair you would wouldn’t you if you’re at a club like that and you know he’s going to leave in the summer. 100 per cent you would, without a shadow of the doubt,” Coady added.
“They were either side of him, we’d all be sat there and they’d be talking about how good Liverpool is, Klopp is and this sort of stuff and we’d all be sat there having something to eat and listening to them.”
Trent Alexander-Arnold could move to Real Madrid
It was a pretty open secret that Liverpool were trying to sign Bellingham last summer. The efforts of Henderson and in particular Alexander-Arnold all-but confirmed that at the time.
Unfortunately though, it was not enough. The 20-year-old ended up joining Real Madrid for around £89m instead.
Still so young, there is obviously time that Bellingham could yet join Alexander-Arnold at Anfield. However, it won’t be for some years.
Instead, a more pressing concern is that the friendship between the two players could lead to Trent leaving Liverpool.
Real Madrid are rumoured to be interested in Alexander-Arnold and perhaps Bellingham is now giving the Liverpool man a taste of his own medicine and trying to sell him the Madrid dream.
From that point of view we’ll just have to hope that Trent follows Jude’s lead and stands firm.