Trent Alexander-Arnold has revealed the moment he began learning Spanish, putting to rest months of speculation about his rapid command of the language following his high-profile move to Real Madrid.
The England international left Liverpool last summer after nearly a decade at his boyhood club, joining the Spanish champions on a free transfer.
His first appearance at the Bernabéu stunned supporters across Europe as he addressed Madrid fans entirely in Spanish, leading many to believe he had been studying the language long before his departure from Anfield.
Now, in a short video shared on social media, the 27-year-old defender has disclosed that his lessons began just five months before that unveiling.
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Speaking alongside his language coach Sara Duque, he said: “Hi, I’m Trent. I started learning Spanish with Sara five months ago. I didn’t speak any Spanish before.
“I wanted to learn Spanish to communicate better with my teammates, my coach and the Madrid fans, and adapt better to the culture.
“I really like the lessons because they were very football-based. The terminology we were learning about was press conferences, interviews and vocabulary that I would need to talk to my teammates on a day-to-day basis within the club.
“This helped me very, very much and I really enjoyed every lesson.”
Trent Alexander-Arnold has revealed the moment he began learning Spanish, putting to rest months of speculation about his rapid command of the language following his high-profile move to Real Madrid
|GETTY/INSTAGRAM
If the timing is accurate, Alexander-Arnold began his studies on May 30, barely a fortnight before his Real Madrid unveiling on June 12.
The revelation contradicts the long-held theory among Liverpool supporters that the right-back had been preparing for his move well in advance, even during the club’s title-winning campaign under Arne Slot.
His decision to join Madrid divided opinion among Liverpool fans, many of whom accused him of running down his contract. The England international had come on as a substitute in
Liverpool’s final match of the season on May 25, just days before his lessons reportedly began.
Trent Alexander-Arnold won two Premier League titles during his spell at Liverpool
| GETTY/GBNEWSLATEST SPORT NEWS
Trent Alexander-Arnold's Spanish teacher has hailed the England defender's grasp of the language following his move from Liverpool to Real Madrid
|At his unveiling in June, when asked how long he had been studying Spanish, he replied simply: “A few months,” a vague answer that at the time did little to cool speculation.
Sara Duque, who has worked with other top players including former Manchester City forward Julián Álvarez, praised Alexander-Arnold’s dedication in a heartfelt post to her 370,000 Instagram followers.
“Five months. That’s all it took, but it wasn’t easy,” she wrote.
“Trent didn’t just learn Spanish. He chose to start from zero, to sound imperfect, to keep showing up day by day.
Trent Alexander-Arnold spoke Spanish at his Real Madrid unveiling earlier this year
| REUTERS“When he stood on that stage in Madrid and spoke with calm, clarity, and heart, it wasn’t about fluency. It was about respect, courage, and a genuine desire to belong.
“As his language coach, that moment meant everything. Because what I saw wasn’t just a player speaking another language, it was a person growing beyond himself.
“In football, words can build trust, connection, identity. And this is what true professionalism really looks like.”
Trent Alexander-Arnold could receive a hostile reception from Liverpool fans
| PADuring his unveiling, Alexander-Arnold expressed his pride in joining the European giants.
“Thank you Florentino Pérez and the club for this opportunity,” he said in fluent Spanish.
“It’s a dream come true. I’m very happy and proud to be here. I want to show Real Madrid fans how I play.
“I know the demands are high but I am going to give my all for the team and the fans. I want to win many titles and enjoy playing alongside the best players in the world.”
Next week, he returns to Anfield for the first time since leaving Liverpool, as Real Madrid face his former club in the Champions League.
What reception he receives from fans of his old side remains to be seen.