Trent Alexander-Arnold has to make a big decision. He may have made a decision and is just waiting to tell the world where he will play next season.
However, after celebrating the decisive goal against Leicester, Arnold's thoughts on wearing a white shirt for Real Madrid still seem to be far away.
After seeing Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk commit to Liverpool for the future, perhaps the appeal of leaving Anfield to join Real Madrid suddenly is no longer as strong as it was a month ago with Arnold.
According to ESPN, Real are increasingly confident that they will sign the English defender this summer. The 26-year-old looks set to make his move to the Bernabeu as a free agent after his Liverpool contract expires.
The negotiations with Liverpool on a new deal have not led to a commitment between the two sides. However, if Arnold moves to Madrid, will he regret the current success trajectory of the "Red Brigade"?
Liverpool is a club on the rise, with their 20th English championship title within reach. Their two pillars, Van Dijk and Salah, have put an end to uncertainty about their futures by signing for Arne Slot's side for at least the next two years.
As Premier League champions, The Kop will definitely add a strong squad this summer to conquer higher ground.
What about Real Madrid? The 15-time Champions League champions will always be a formidable force thanks to their history and existing foundation. However, being eliminated in the quarter-finals of the Champions League against Arsenal exposed the weaknesses in their squad. Meanwhile, Barcelona are in a good position to end Los Blancos' dominance in La Liga.
Carlo Ancelotti's future as Real coach is also under threat. The "White Vultures" will take a different direction under a new signing next season. Therefore, there is much controversy over whether Real or Liverpool are the best place for an ambitious player like Arnold.
Arnold has won every title he can reach in England for Liverpool. And his admission earlier this season that he wanted to become the first full-back to win the Ballon d'Or hinted at a move to the Bernabeu. Along with Barcelona, Real Madrid holds the record for 12 Golden Balls that their players have won.
However, recent times have shown that Real is no longer the number 1 destination for the best players in the world. And if Arnold has not made a final decision yet, he may be advised to think about what the years ahead will look like.
Barcelona is the leading candidate for the La Liga championship. The arrival of 17-year-old striker Lamine Yamal has brought a glory they have not had since Lionel Messi left in 2021. The squad is made up of promising young players from the Blaugrana, with the help of Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha, who are also on their way to conquering the Champions League this season.
The 1-5 defeat to Arsenal in the Champions League when they lost both matches exposed a weakness in the Real squad that Arnold could not solve alone.
How will Real replace defenders Antonio Rudiger and David Alaba (both 32 years old) or Luka Modric (39 years old) in midfield? They have yet to deal with the loss of Toni Kroos after he retired last summer.
Will a new coach find the best position for Jude Bellingham? Will Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior become more connected instead of being lost as they are now?
Therefore, if Arnold decides that it is time to leave Liverpool to join Madrid, he will have to accept a big risk.
David Beckham and Michael Owen, the biggest stars of English football at the peak of their careers, were both drawn by the appeal of Real Madrid. Beckham left Manchester United for the Bernabeu in 2003 and Owen followed a year later. However, both have seen their titles drop compared to before.
Beckham has won just one La Liga title and one Spanish Super Cup in four years with Real. Meanwhile, Owen's only season with Los Blancos has ended without winning any trophies. In contrast, Man United continued to win without Beckham, while Liverpool won the Champions League a year after Owen left.
Real is the biggest club in the world and the Hollywood version of football. But for now, Liverpool could be a better choice for a player looking to win the biggest trophies.
