Trent Alexander-Arnold was officially presented as a Real Madrid player on Thursday afternoon. The Englishman, who made the switch from Liverpool this summer, addressed the crowd in fluent Spanish for his inaugural speech as part of Los Blancos.
He expressed, “Good afternoon. I want to thank President Florentino Perez and the club for this remarkable opportunity.
Moments like this are rare; it’s truly a dream come true, and I’m incredibly happy and proud to be here.
I’m eager to demonstrate my playing style to the Real Madrid fans.
I understand the high expectations that come with playing for Real Madrid, but I am committed to giving my all for both the team and the fans.
My goal is to showcase my abilities, win numerous titles, and relish the experience of playing alongside the best. Hala Madrid!”
Alexander-Arnold has proudly worn the number 66 jersey throughout his time at Liverpool, but with his move to Real Madrid, he’ll be switching to the number 12 due to La Liga regulations.
At 26 years old, Alexander-Arnold has always emblazoned his surname on his shirt for both club and country, but that tradition will change in Spain. Now, his jersey will display his first name instead.
During his unveiling at Real Madrid, the talented right-back was asked about this decision. He explained, “It’s quite an easy explanation to be honest.
Whenever I’ve traveled around Europe, my name tends to confuse a lot of people since I have three names and it’s double-barreled.
Some people call me Arnold, others Alexander, Alex, or even Trent… it gets complicated.
”In addition, he has updated his Instagram handle from ‘trent arnold 66’ to simply ‘trent’.
According to the BBC, adopting a single name is viewed as a smart move for branding and marketing, making it more memorable and distinctive.
Real Madrid fans may see their new star on the field as he prepares for his debut against Al-Hilal on June 18 during the opening match of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.