Pep Lijnders praises Trent Alexander-arnold ahead of Madrid clash
Pep Lijnders, Manchester City’s assistant manager, has reiterated his long-standing admiration for trent alexander-arnold, recalling that he backed the England defender as a future Liverpool captain and praised his leadership during their time together. The remark comes as the two men prepare to meet in the Champions League round of 16 first leg at the Bernabeu on March 11 (ET), a reunion that sharpens conversation about the defender’s form and future.
Pep Lijnders on Trent Alexander-arnold
Lijnders spent years with Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool, serving as No. 2 during the period that included a Champions League win in 2019 and a Premier League trophy 12 months later, and he publicly backed Alexander-Arnold for the armband in 2021. He praised Alexander-Arnold’s technical talent from age 15, described him as a leader who controlled his emotions, and noted the defender’s growth into a player he saw as a future captain.
The pattern suggests Lijnders’ long-term, documented view of Alexander-Arnold—shaped across Liverpool’s 2019 Champions League and 2020 Premier League campaigns—gives City staff a detailed, historic read on the player that goes beyond recent form.
Real Madrid and Manchester City
Trent Alexander-Arnold left Liverpool for Real Madrid in the summer of 2025 and has faced injuries that limited his impact during his first season in Spain, though he has since regained his place under manager Alvaro Arbeloa and is vying to start against Manchester City. There was speculation in the January transfer window that the England international might leave Madrid at the end of the season, but those claims were later disputed in the coverage of his situation.
The figures point to a mixed short-term profile for Alexander-Arnold: a transfer and fitness narrative that includes a summer 2025 move to Real Madrid, a disrupted debut season in Spain due to injuries, and a restored role under Arbeloa—factors that will shape how both clubs approach the Bernabeu meeting on March 11 (ET).
Transfer links and tactical questions
Coverage has linked Alexander-Arnold with a possible move back into the Premier League, noting that he would have strengthened Manchester City’s right-back options and that Lijnders joined City’s coaching staff last summer. Commentators have also pointed to material from Lijnders’ 2022 book and pre-season interactions—including a forwarded text about Alexander-Arnold’s selection for Liverpool’s players’ committee—as evidence of the coach’s high regard for the defender.
The pattern suggests those established connections—Lijnders’ presence at City since last summer and his documented advocacy for Alexander-Arnold in 2021 and 2022—help explain why transfer and tactical speculation has attached to Manchester City, while also highlighting that fitness and form at Real Madrid remain the immediate determinants of any move.
Man City and Real Madrid will meet in the UEFA Champions League round of 16 first leg at the Bernabeu on March 11 (ET); that match will provide the next confirmed milestone for assessing Alexander-Arnold’s fitness, role and any renewed speculation about his club future.
