Trent Alexander-Arnold spoke fluent Spanish at his Real Madrid unveiling, stunning his new employers as he was joined by model girlfriend Estelle Behnke.
The England star hailed it as a ‘dream come true’ to join Los Blancos as he gave his entire address in a foreign language with his proud parents and two brothers also watching on.
He beamed as he shook hands with club president Florentino Perez, embarking on a six-year deal with the European giants after leaving Liverpool a month early for £10million. And he delivered what Spanish publisher ‘AS’ immediately described as ‘perfect Spanish’ – without notes.
‘Thank you Florentino Perez and the club for this opportunity. This doesn’t happen every day,’ he said.
‘It’s a dream come true. I’m very happy and proud to be here. I want to show Real Madrid fans how I play. I do realise I’m signign for Real Madrid and the demands are high but I am going to give my all for the team and Real Madrid fans.
‘I want to show those fans how I play. I want to win many titles. I want to be a winner here and enjoy playing alongside the best players in the world. Hala Madrid (hail Madrid).’
Trent Alexander-Arnold spoke fluent Spanish at his Real Madrid unveiling, stunning the room
He smiled as he joined girlfriend Estelle Behnke, his parents, and club president Florentino Perez
The former Liverpool star called it a ‘dream come true’ to begin his six-year contract at Madrid
Many in the audiences smiled, demonstrating how impressive these 120 words of Spanish had been. In the audience were former players Alvaro Arbeloa and Roberto Carlos, as well as Real officials and Alexander Arnold’s family. It had been unprecedented. No arriving foreign player had ever delivered anything like this. In his press conference later, conducted in English, he revealed he had been learning Spanish for ‘a few months’.
Standing in front of some of the club’s recent Champions League trophies – including from 2022, when Los Blancos beat Liverpool 1-0 – he held up his new shirt.
The right-back has taken the squad number 12 – a number often reserved for back-up goalkeepers, though not in Spain – and will be known simply as ‘Trent’.
He inherits the number 12 from Eduardo Camavinga but the number has historic implications for full-backs. It served legendary full-back and club captain Marcelo well, as he held it throughout his 16 years at the club.
Perez hailed the full-back as a legend in his opening address, saying: ’26 years old, a legend in the game, and now he is joining our family.
‘A player who has won everything. One of the best defenders and full backs in world football who played for one of the most mportant clubs in the world, Liverpool.
‘Dear Trent, welcome to Real Madrid, I would like to thank you for joining our club. We know it means a lot. You could have signed for any club worldwide but you wanted to commit your future to Real Madrid. Our fans will never forget your gesture.
‘Your dream has come true. This is the most loved, admired, most successful club in the world.
‘You have chosen to play for Real Madrid because you know this is the place where you can achieve more glroy. The supporters will have your back and give you eenrgy and support whenever you need it the most.
Madrid began their presentation with a montage celebrating the star journey through the youth levels to some of his iconic moments with Liverpool – including the triumphant 2019 Champions League final and stunning goals for club and country.
The England star revealed in his press conference that he had been learning Spanish for a ‘few months’
He sat alongside his girlfriend Estelle – who wore a £3,225 dress – as club president Perez hailed him as a ‘legend’
He held up his shirt in front of some of the club’s Champions League trophies on Thursday
His mother, father, and two brothers were in the audience with Estelle as he spoke
Alexander-Arnold pictured undergoing his medical ahead of his Real Madrid unveiling
He will take the number 12 at Madrid – not his iconic 66 – and be known as ‘Trent’ on his shirt
Girlfriend Behnke, wearing a £3,225 white Alaia one-shoulder ray-kint wool midi dress, was sat by his side as Alexander-Arnold, kitted out in a black suit, watched on. His mother shed a tear and his brothers were also in attendance.
Fans were gathered outside the club’s medical provider’s facilities bright and early this morning in eager anticipation of seeing their new man.
His is a lower-key introduction than the one Kylian Mbappe was treated to last summer, with 80,000 fans turning up to the Santiago Bernabeu to welcome the Frenchman on a rapturous day.
Alexander-Arnold will dive straight into the action with Los Blancos at the Club World Cup.
Madrid will jet off to the USA soon ahead of group stage fixtures against Al-Hilal, Pachuca and Red Bull Salzburg.
That will be the 26-year-old’s first chance to impress new manager Xabi Alonso, who has replaced Carlo Ancelotti on a three-year contract after a mightily impressive stint at Bayer Leverkusen.
As well as his new kit number, Alexander-Arnold has been forced to make another change from his life at Liverpool after being banned from taking his prized possession over to Spain.
The one thing from home that he won’t be able to take to his new club is his £130,000 Range Rover that he has been driving around England.
Alexander-Arnold’s Instagram handle changed from ‘@trentarnold66’ to ‘@trent’
The right-back will don the shirt for the first time under Real boss Xabi Alonso next week
That’s because Madrid have a sponsorship agreement with BMW, which prevents players driving any other cars to the club’s training ground, according to El Motor.
The car manufacturer provides Real Madrid players with cars to use throughout the season, meaning they will hook up Alexander-Arnold with a new drive.
Mbappe and Jude Bellingham have opted for the BMW XM, which costs around £152,000 but will be given to the defender for free.
Alexander-Arnold opted to run down his contract to leave his boyhood club on a free transfer at the end of the season, leading to an angry response from some Liverpool fans.
After announcing his decision to leave in early May, Alexander-Arnold was booed by his own supporters when he came off the bench during a 2-2 draw with Arsenal at Anfield.
A number of his team-mates and Arne Slot leapt to his defence after that game as they asked fans to remember his previous years of service.
The England international did not feature in Liverpool’s next game – a 3-2 away defeat by Brighton – but did come on as a half-time substitute on the final day against Crystal Palace.
On that occasion, he received a much better reception from supporters, and he was then cheered by most fans when he went up to collect his medal during the post-match presentation as Liverpool lifted the Premier League trophy.
Alexander-Arnold broke down in tears as he did a lap of honour to thank fans after the presentation, and he was seen crying again during Liverpool’s open-top bus parade the following day.
