'I joined Man Utd against Real Madrid – Trent Alexander-Arnold won't have the same concerns'

Leny Yoro has revealed why he chose Manchester United over Real Madrid this summer, while Trent Alexander-Arnold could be ready to swap Anfield for the Bernabeu. Alexander-Arnold's contract with Liverpool, alongside that of Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk, is set to expire at the end of the current Premier League season – and persistent rumors link him with a move to Real Madrid .

The Spanish giants have been in the market for a new first-choice right-back since Dani Carvajal suffered a torn ACL in early October. With no new contract currently on the table from new Liverpool manager Arne Slot, the 26-year-old could begin negotiations with Real Madrid as early as New Year's Day. However, Alexander-Arnold may want to consider the views of his Premier League rival Yoro, who found himself choosing between Manchester United and Real Madrid this summer.

Although many football fans believed the La Liga club were the favorites to sign the 19-year-old in a high-profile move from Lille, with strong competition from Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain , the young player surprised everyone by deciding to join the team. Red Devils in a five-year, £52million deal.

When asked why he chose Manchester United over other interested clubs, Yoro revealed to Rio Ferdinand and TNT Sports: “For me, man, it's the one with the most history, it's is the biggest club in the world and for me, playing for United, even when I was young, it was the history, the fans, everything is big here,” reports the Mirror.

However, transfer guru Fabrizio Romano has provided another angle on this, highlighting the appeal of a starting position which could have tipped the scales for the player.

According to Romano, Yoro was presented with a “long-term project” with him as a regular starter, giving him an important role in the team unlike what might have been offered at Madrid. The same Caught Offside report also cites “significant salary” and “long-term confidence” as other deciding factors for the defender.

Despite his promise, Yoro's journey with United was rocky, marred by a foot injury requiring surgery during the team's pre-season tour of the United States. Only back in action since December, the central defender has nevertheless participated in every Premier League match since then under the management of Ruben Amorim.

If Alexander-Arnold moved to Real Madrid, he wouldn't have to worry about securing a key role. The right-back is already a well-established player at club and international level, and at his peak he could easily secure a regular place in any team.

Given his high caliber, Alexander-Arnold is expected to land a lucrative contract if he signs with Real Madrid, a club known for its generous remuneration packages. For example, fellow Englishman Jude Bellingham is reported to earn a base salary of £330,187 per week, while Kylian Mbappe is said to receive a whopping £495,359 per week base salary.

Liverpool currently sit top of the Premier League, eight points ahead of second-placed Nottingham Forest with a game still in hand. The Reds have accumulated 14 wins, three draws and just one defeat since the start of the season, with Alexander-Arnold playing an important role in their 2024/25 title campaign. The star has appeared in 17 matches this season, scoring one goal and providing four assists.