Real Madrid confirmed on Friday morning that they had agreed a fee with Liverpool of £8.5million for defender Trent Alexander-Arnold to join ahead of the Club World Cup next month.
The move has been met with a lot of criticism from Liverpool fans, who feel aggrieved and disappointed by the 26-year-old’s decision to leave the English giants.
The full-back gave fans a plethora of unforgettable memories, such as the 4-0 fightback against Barcelona at Anfield in 2019, with his honours including two Premier League wins and a Champions League.
His most recent, and last, significant memory on the pitch was a stellar weak-footed volley against Leicester City last month that won the game, edging his boyhood club closer to the title.
Trent Alexander-Arnold famously took a quick corner during their 4-0 win over Barcelona
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The celebration was iconic, with Alexander-Arnold taking his top off and placing it onto the corner flag.
It had an air of legend, or immortality to it. His no 66 jersey will go down in Liverpool's history.
But, when the English international arrives at Real Madrid, what will he be wearing?
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Trent Alexander-Arnold displayed his shirt on the corner flag after his goal against Leicester this seasonGettyThe first number that will be immediately available is the No 10, vacated by the departing Luka Modric this year - although it may be unrealistic to expect a full-back to sport this number.
Lucas Vazquez’s No 17 will also become available, as it has been announced he will be leaving the club this year after a decade at the club.
Vazquez, 33, has played at right-back for many years - having initially started out as a winger.
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Jesus Vallejo's No 18, will also be leaving the club upon the expiry of his contract in the summer.
The defender has played just 136 minutes for Real Madrid this campaign, and his number could be another option for Alexander-Arnold.
Additionally, Rodrygo (no 11), Tchouameni (no 14) and Endrick (no 16) are all been rumoured to have opportunities to leave the club this summer, potentially opening the door to their squad number.
Of course, Alexander-Arnold’s beloved no 66 is also available if the Englishman would like to take it on, but he may want his legacy for the number to remain at Liverpool.
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Trent Alexander-Arnold's no 66 is currently available at Real Madrid
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Real Madrid has been known for changing typical squad numbers throughout history.
During his first season, Cristiano Ronaldo, also known as CR7, wore the No 9. Jude Bellingham picked no 5, despite having a strong offensive focus, scoring 19 league goals in his maiden campaign.
Recently, Kylian Mbappe moved from no 10 at Paris Saint-Germain to no 9 at Real Madrid.
When announcing his decision to leave his boyhood club, Alexander-Arnold said: "After 20 years at Liverpool Football Club, now is the time for me to confirm that I will be leaving at the end of the season.
"This is easily the hardest decision I've ever made in my life."
On the final day of the season, the defender also posted a photo on X of his Adidas boots with the caption: “20 years. Gave it everything.”
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