UFC star Paddy Pimblett, who is also a huge Liverpool fan, has torn into Reds defender Trent Alexander-Arnold as he nears a move to Real Madrid.
Alexander-Arnold, 26, has been the subject of intense speculation for much of this season, with the defender – alongside Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah – out of contract at the end of the campaign.
Liverpool have remained in negotiations with all three stars and the trio were able to speak to overseas clubs about joining on a free transfer from January, though agreements with Salah and van Dijk are close.
An agreement is not, however, close for Alexander-Arnold, who still seems set to join Madrid in the summer for free, which would see him leave his boyhood club, which he vice-captains.
A number of Reds and pundits have given their views on the saga, including Jamie Carragher who said he was ‘disappointed’ in the defender.
Pimblett, who faces Michael Chandler this weekend in the biggest fight of his career, has now spoken his truth, and didn’t mince his words.
UFC star and Liverpool super-fan Paddy Pimblett has torn into Trent Alexander-Arnold
The Liverpool defender, who is out of contract at the end of the season, is nearing a move to Real Madrid
Pimblett is an avid Liverpool supporter and said Alexander-Arnold could have been a club legend with a statue
‘He’s a lizard,’ the lightweight star told Sky Sports. ‘He’s forgotten where he has come from, he’s meant to be a young lad from west Derby.
‘I’d change my career in a heartbeat to have his, to win trophies for my city, my team i have grown up supporting. What I’d do for that.
The money he is earning and has been offered, putting a smile on everyone’s face in the city. I grew up wanting to be Steven Gerrard, Fernando Torres, Luis Suarez, and he’s just leaving the club and supporters that have been there for him his whole life to be another cog in the machine at Madrid.
‘He could have been a legend at LFC, always said he wanted to be captain, so he was always lying, wasn’t he? He’s forgotten where he’s come from. He could have had a statue built in his honour, now he’s going to be forgotten about.’
Alexander-Arnold has racked up 349 appearances for the Reds since coming through the academy, scoring 22 goals and adding 87 assists.
The defender – who has won eight trophies with his boyhood club – was also appointed as vice-captain in the summer of 2023 and has understandably been a firm fan favourite.
Alexander-Arnold’s success at Liverpool has similarly seen his commercial appeal grow, with the 26-year-old working with brands such as adidas, EA SPORTS, Guess Jeans, Under Armour and Google Pixel.
But he now seems set to move to Madrid, but Reds players aren’t bothered by the speculation, according to his full back partner in crime Andy Robertson.
Liverpool fans have been hit hard by the news that their vice-captain is set to depart soon
Pimblett said the defender would be ‘another cog in the machine’ at Real Madrid if he joins
Andrew Robertson (left) has given an insight into the mind of team-mate Alexander-Arnold
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‘Trent’s head is not great because he’s injured,’ Robertson said. ‘He hates being injured – none of us like being injured but it hurts Trent a little bit more. That’s all he is focused on.’
‘It is impossible for me to say we have not seen all the noise and everyone commenting on it,’ he added. ‘But for us our focus is for him to get back fit and healthy.
‘Once he does that, what will happen, will happen. No one knows that yet. People can talk and speculate but for us we want Trent back very soon.’