England star Trent Alexander-Arnold has officially joined Real Madrid, ending his long journey at Liverpool Football Club. The 26-year-old was introduced as Madrid’s newest Galactico during a special presentation on Thursday, where he wore the No.12 shirt.
Alexander-Arnold’s move to Spain’s biggest football club marks a new chapter in his professional career after spending almost 20 years with Liverpool. He joined the club’s academy as a young boy and rose through the ranks to become one of the world’s top right-backs.
Real Madrid Paid a Transfer Fee Despite Expiring Contract
Although his contract with Liverpool was set to expire on June 30, Real Madrid paid around £10 million to bring him in early. This allowed him to join the team before pre-season begins and get settled in with his new teammates.
Surprise Speech in Spanish Impresses Fans and Florentino Perez
During the official unveiling, Trent surprised fans and even Real Madrid president Florentino Perez by speaking in nearly perfect Spanish during his first press conference. The unexpected effort to speak the language showed how serious he is about embracing the Spanish culture and connecting with Madrid supporters.
After his speech, Trent was handed his new Real Madrid jersey, but instead of having his full last name “Alexander-Arnold” on the back, the shirt simply had “Trent.” This might be a branding decision or simply a personal preference.
Why Trent Alexander-Arnold Can’t Wear His Iconic No.66 Shirt
Many fans noticed that Trent will now wear No.12, instead of the No.66 jersey he became famous for at Liverpool. So, why the change?
The main reason is due to La Liga rules. In Spain’s top football division, players can only wear shirt numbers between 1 and 25. This rule applies to every team and matches the limit of 25 registered players in a domestic squad.
This means Trent’s No.66 jersey, which he had worn almost his entire senior career, is not allowed in La Liga. That number became iconic during his time at Liverpool, especially when he helped the club win two Premier League titles and a Champions League trophy.
Florentino Perez Prefers Traditional Shirt Numbers
Even if La Liga allowed higher numbers, Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has his own preference. According to club legend Zinedine Zidane, Perez likes players to wear more traditional numbers between 1 and 11.
Zidane once shared that Perez told him, “This is not American football,” when he tried to choose a higher number. In the end, Zidane wore the No.5 shirt. This rule might have also influenced Jude Bellingham, who had to switch from No.22 to No.5 after joining Real Madrid.
So, even if No.66 was somehow allowed, Trent Alexander-Arnold would still likely be asked to switch numbers.
When choosing a new number, Trent didn’t have many options. Some of the numbers he wore for the England national team, such as 2, 7, 8, and 10, were already taken by other Madrid players. The No.12 jersey was the highest available number left, and so that became his new identity at the Spanish giants.
