'Chuffed he has the balls to do it!' - Gary Lineker defends Trent Alexander-Arnold over decision to join Real Madrid following backlash from angry Liverpool fans

Speaking with The Times, Lineker praised Alexander-Arnold's decision to pursue a new chapter after his contract with the Reds runs out on June 30th, after his move to Real was essentially confirmed by the right-back's exit announcement.

Alexander-Arnold will depart Liverpool after more than 20 years at the club. He has played a crucial role in two Premier League titles and countless other honours including the Champions League in 2019. Lineker himself made the decision to move abroad to Spain in 1986, when he joined Barcelona from Everton.

Lineker said: “I am chuffed that he has had the balls to do it. Because it is hard to leave Liverpool. It is no one else’s life. It is your life. You do what is right for you.

“The big stars. Where do they go? They go to Real Madrid or Barcelona. I think it is absolutely the right time for him to go. People are blaming him for the fact that they are not going to get a fee for him. But that is not an issue for him.

“If I was looking after a player I would always tell them to see their contract out. If you are a good player it puts you in a perfect position. Why wouldn’t you finish your contract, as in any other walk of life, and go somewhere else?"

Alexander-Arnold will get the opportunity to lift a second Premier League trophy with Liverpool before he waves goodbye to Merseyside. Should he move to Madrid as expected, he will be aiming for further European glory in the Spanish capital.