Alexander-Arnold stuns with his Spanish and 'new number' at Real Madrid unveiling
Trent Alexander-Arnold, 26, made a surprising and impressive debut at his Real Madrid unveiling, delivering his entire welcome speech in fluent Spanish. The former Liverpool star, who joined for £10m to play in the Club World Cup, confirmed he had been learning the language for "a few months," hinting his move was a well-planned transition to the Spanish giants.
In a truly unexpected moment at the Estadio Bernabéu, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Real Madrid's newest signing, delivered his entire welcome speech in fluent Spanish, much to the delight of the assembled crowd. The 26-year-old right-back completed his move from boyhood club Liverpool for a fee of £10 million, ensuring his eligibility for the upcoming Club World Cup. His departure from Anfield was announced in early May, as he opted not to extend his contract, which was set to expire at the end of June.
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Alexander-Arnold's impressive linguistic display offered a clear indication that his decision to leave Liverpool was a well-considered plan, not a last-minute impulse. "This doesn’t happen every day," he stated in 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 do realise I’m signing for Real Madrid and that the demands are high, but I’m going to give my all for the team. I want to win many titles and play alongside the best players." During his subsequent press conference, he revealed he had been learning Spanish for "a few months."
Trent Alexander-Arnold speaking in fluent Spanish at his Real Madrid unveiling 🇪🇸 pic.twitter.com/vgxJZU7c3J
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) June 12, 2025
The unveiling ceremony began with a montage showcasing Alexander-Arnold's most memorable moments at Liverpool, including his iconic quick corner against Barcelona in the 2019 Champions League semi-final. He was instrumental in Liverpool's triumph in that competition, and went on to accumulate a collection of accolades, including two Premier League titles, two Carabao Cups, an FA Cup, and a Club World Cup across 354 appearances for the Reds.
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His departure from Liverpool was not without tension; he faced boos from some Anfield faithful after announcing his decision. However, a teary-eyed Alexander-Arnold received cheers as he collected his Premier League winners' medal on the final day of the season, marking a heart-warming send-off.
Why can't he wear number 66?
At Real Madrid, Alexander-Arnold will wear the number 12 shirt, as La Liga rules restrict players to numbers 1 to 25, forcing him to abandon his famous number 66. He has also chosen to use 'Trent' as the name on his back instead of his surname.
Real Madrid president Florentino Perez warmly welcomed Alexander-Arnold, highlighting his significance as "one of the best right-backs in world football." Perez praised his choice to join Real Madrid, emphasizing that Alexander-Arnold "could have signed for any club worldwide but you wanted to commit your future to Real Madrid. Our fans will never forget that gesture."
Alexander-Arnold is expected to make his highly anticipated debut for Real Madrid in their Club World Cup opener against Saudi side Al-Hilal on Wednesday, June 18, at Miami's Hard Rock Stadium.
