![\"LIVERPOOL,](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/0_GettyImages-2217000286.jpg\")
Gabby Agbonlahor thinks Liverpool should have refused to sell Trent Alexander-Arnold to Real Madrid early(Image: Michael Regan\/Getty Images\/Getty Images For The Premier League)<\/p>\nLiverpool agreed terms on a deal worth \u00a310million to allow Trent Alexander-Arnold to join Real Madrid early – but one pundit believes the Reds should have played hardball<\/p>\n
19:33, 31 May 2025Updated 19:33, 31 May 2025<\/p>\n
Gabby Agbonlahor thinks Liverpool should have refused to sell Trent Alexander-Arnold to Real Madrid early(Image: Michael Regan\/Getty Images\/Getty Images For The Premier League)<\/p>\n
Liverpool have been told they should have stuck to their guns rather than caving into the ‘bullies’ at Real Madrid<\/a> after accepting an offer from the Spanish giants for Trent Alexander-Arnold<\/a> earlier this week.<\/p>\n The Reds right-back, 26, announced at the start of the month he would not be renewing his contract at Anfield<\/a>. Real Madrid are long-term admirers of the England star were due to sign him for free at the end of next month.<\/p>\n But with Los Blancos desperate to have their marquee summer signing available for the upcoming Fifa Club World Cup, Real and Liverpool<\/a> agreed terms on a financial package which – taking into account saved wages – will bank the Reds around \u00a310million<\/a>.<\/p>\n While Liverpool will now add a sizeable sum to their summer transfer budget for a player who was due to leave for free, Gabby Agbonlahor<\/a> has criticised the Premier League<\/a> champions over the deal.<\/p>\n The former Aston Villa<\/a> man says he would have refused to do a deal over Alexander-Arnold and forced the England star to miss the start of the Club World Cup.<\/p>\n READ MORE: Transfer news LIVE: Fernandes’ decision, Real Madrid eye Arsenal star, Wirtz to Liverpool latest<\/a>READ MORE: Florian Wirtz to Liverpool transfer: Germany boss responds to accusation over move<\/a><\/p>\n He said: “Do you know what I would have done? I would have loved it – and I\u2019m sure Liverpool fans would agree – (had they said) stuff you, you\u2019ve gone after our player sneakily, you\u2019ve made a deal for him to say he’s going to Real Madrid, you\u2019ve cost us \u00a3100m, he\u2019s a \u00a3100m player at a great age, you can wait until July 1 and he\u2019s going to miss two games of the Club World Cup, how about that?<\/p>\n “You think you can bully everyone, Real Madrid, biggest club in the world<\/a>, but you\u2019re not bullying Liverpool.”<\/p>\n The talkSPORT pundit continued: “Yes, \u00a310m [is] great money, it can go towards transfers. But sometimes I look at it and think wouldn\u2019t it be nice if Liverpool said, \u2018Nah, he\u2019s not going to play a game for you until July 1′.<\/p>\n “You you think you can get anything you want, Real Madrid. You’ve got (Kylian) Mbappe on a free transfer, you’ve got Trent on a free, and now you want him you’re offering \u00a310m for a \u00a3100m player.”<\/p>\n Alexander-Arnold will now be free to feature for Los Blancos when they face Al-Hilal in their first match of the tournament next month.<\/p>\n The boyhood Reds fan has signed a six-year deal with the Spanish giants and will officially become a Real Madrid player when the transfer window opens on June 1.<\/p>\n Join our new WhatsApp community<\/a> and receive your daily dose of Mirror<\/a> Football<\/a> content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.<\/a><\/p>\n Sky Sports discounted Premier League and EFL package<\/p>\n This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more<\/a> \u00a343<\/p>\n \u00a335<\/p>\n Sky<\/p>\n![\"Former](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/0_Screenshot-2022-08-21-at-152018.jpg\")
Agbonlahor says he would have refused to give Alexander-Arnold the green light to move early(Image: talkSPORT)<\/p>\n![\"Content](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/1745740390_979_0_Sky-Factbox.jpg\")
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