Liverpool news: Alexander-Arnold ‘doesn’t owe anyone anything’

In my mind, Real Madrid are probably the biggest club in world football so if they express an interest in you then that has to be acknowledged.

That is a reflection of where you are in your career and your status in world football regardless of whether you go or not. It is a huge achievement for them to even be interested in you, let alone trying to bring you across.

Is it a once in a career opportunity? Possibly, yes.

For Trent Alexander-Arnold, there will be different critique because he is from Liverpool and supports them. That means he shares the same identity as the fans.

Football fandom is a lot about identity and that is why there can be such a strong reaction to something you would not do yourself. The difference is that for some, it is more than just about supporting, it is a profession.

Liverpool fans don’t have to feel proud, but there will be lots of fans who are disappointed yet appreciative for what he has done to this point.

He is not leaving the club to go and sign for Manchester United or a rival, and I don’t think he would have done that.

He hasn’t just been good for Liverpool – he has been iconic in the big moments. And he is likely to lift the Premier League title at the end of this season as a Liverpool fan, for only the second time ever in club history.

There are so many different ways of looking at it and it is not as simple as saying ‘I am going to stay here until the end of time’ because he might not even be wanted in a few seasons by the club. We can assume that Liverpool would still want him but football is a business and we are seeing that now more than ever.

I think it is brave what Alexander-Arnold is doing because he has been very successful at Liverpool. He has been a huge part of their success in the last five or six seasons and fans will always have those memories.

This is an opportunity he has and it is the decision he has had to make. I don’t think he owes anyone anything from that stand point as it is his career. Other people telling him what to do misses the point.

It is potentially a huge move for him and for English football, so if he does go then I look forward to seeing how he will perform in a different league and to see if his skills can translate.

He has been a huge inspiration to people who have wanted to play football in England and for Liverpool fans who would love to do what he has in his career for his boyhood club.

Not only that, he is considered to be one of the best creative defenders in the history of the Premier League in such a short space of time. That is a credit to him.

I can understand the sadness but it is about taking a minute to appreciate everything that he has done for the club. He deserves the credit because it has been extraordinary.

Nedum Onuoha was speaking to BBC Sport’s Katie Stafford