Trent Alexander-Arnold has admitted that he will only truly know if he has fulfilled his potential the day after he retires.
The Liverpool defender, who turned 26 earlier this week, expressed his hopes for the remainder of his career during an international break, as he prepares to represent England in upcoming matches against Greece on Thursday and Finland on Sunday.
Now entering the final year of his contract with Liverpool, the Reds’ vice-captain has been frequently linked with a move to Real Madrid, who will be able to discuss a pre-contract agreement with the West Derby-born star in January.
This situation poses a significant concern for Liverpool, as they risk losing one of their standout players for nothing in less than a year.
Speaking to ITV Sport while on international duty, Alexander-Arnold opened up about how he will evaluate his career when he eventually retires.
While he is eager to add more silverware to his already impressive collection, he acknowledged that there are other factors he will consider when reflecting on his legacy, especially as discussions about his long-term future continue to dominate headlines.
“This was a conversation I had last camp with (Eberechi) Eze when we’re going to Ireland,” Trent Alexander-Arnold said.
“I was on the coach down the airport and we had this conversation.
“I said, you know, that there’s a chance I may never win another trophy in my career again.
“There’s a chance of that.
“There’s a chance I win many, many more.
“And you’ll only know the morning after you retire.
“You’ll look yourself in the mirror and you’ll have a feeling of either regret or satisfaction of what you have achieved.
“But I don’t think you can value that on trophies and medals or goals and assists; anything like that.
“It’s more [that] I give it absolutely everything from start to finish and I’ve put everything into it.
“And as long as I can say that, that every single day I put everything in to it, I tried to get better every single day, I tried to improve myself, I tried to be the best player I could be for the team and I tried to help the team win as many games as possible, and I believe that I maximised the potential that everyone told me from a very young age that I had, then I’ll be more than satisfied.”
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