Real Madrid made to pay after another Richard Hughes MASTERCLASS

Anfield bid farewell to Trent Alexander-Arnold on Sunday. The right-back, who has been a Liverpool player for 20 years, is leaving for Real Madrid.

Alexander-Arnold ran down his Reds’ contract - scheduled to expire in summer 2025 - and a move to the Bernabeu now beckons.

READ MORE: Arne Slot’s PROMISE to Florian Wirtz that sealed the deal

The entire episode has left Liverpool supporters cold with Trent’s status as Liverpool “legend” now in severe jeopardy.

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Having won everything he could with the club under Jurgen Klopp and Arne Slot, the England international now heads off for the next phase of his career.

There are still a few details to be sorted out, however, and there remains doubt whether or not this will end up being a free transfer after all.

Madrid want Trent for CWC

That’s because Madrid want Trent on board for the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup - which begins in the USA next month. The problem for Xabi Alonso’s team is that Trent’s contract does not actually expire until the end of June.

So if they want the defender to form part of their squad for the tournament they will need to buy him from Liverpool in a newly designated transfer period ahead of the tournament.

Liverpool turned down Madrid’s efforts to sign Alexander-Arnold in January - preferring to hold on to the player while prizes were to be disputed in the Premier League and Champions League.

Madrid set to pay €5m for Trent

But now it looks as though sporting director Richard Hughes is set to add a €5m bonus to the Reds’ kitty as a result of negotiations with Madrid.

El Chiringuito in Spain is claiming that Trent WILL be available to the 15-time European champions for the Club World Cup and Liverpool will take €5m in a transfer fee.

That’s not a bad result for a player who was about to walk out for free.

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Of course, a player like Alexander-Arnold would attract a lot more in the open market. But these are not ideal circumstances. Getting a €5m fee from Trent with just a month on his contract is a very good piece of business.