Steven Gerrard has said he would not have left Liverpool in the same way as Trent Alexander-Arnold.
The 27-year-old, who joined the Reds’ Academy at just six years old, progressed through the youth ranks before making his senior debut in 2016.
Alexander-Arnold’s decision to move to Real Madrid on a free transfer this summer, after turning down the chance to stay at Anfield, angered a significant portion of Liverpool’s fanbase.
Some supporters even voiced their frustration when the England international was booed as a substitute against Arsenal late last season.
Speaking on the Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast, Steven Gerrard admitted that he would have handled the situation differently if he were in Alexander-Arnold’s position.
He said: “If I take my Liverpool hat off, I think any player in the game when Barcelona and Real Madrid come, it’s going to turn your head.
“This is me speaking without my Liverpool hat on at the moment. Real Madrid came for me with Mourinho, serious. And it turned my head.
“It didn’t get as much traction and noise as Chelsea because it was shut down pretty quick because of the timing of it and what Real Madrid wanted me to do to manufacture that.
“So it never got the traction or the noise, but it turned my head. It turned my head, for sure. It’s Real Madrid. So without my Liverpool hat on, Real Madrid and Barcelona, whether you like it or not, if you’re a United fan, Liverpool fan, they’re two humongous clubs.
“And when they come, it’s going to turn your head. No matter who you are, it’s going to turn your head. Or you’re not. You’re not human. They’re going to turn your head.
“So I can understand it from being in Trent’s shoes. I can understand it. I get it. His best mate plays there. Maybe he wants to challenge himself. He’s won everything at Liverpool. So there’s a part of me that really understands it.
“But as soon as I put my Liverpool hat back on, I think, what are you doing? What are you doing?
“You’re arguably one of the best teams in Europe. You’re winning things that I sit here now and still dream of winning.
“You’re winning European Cups. You’re one of the main men. The fans adore you. What are you doing? But this is with my Liverpool hat on, because I love Liverpool football club. So…”
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