Trent Alexander-Arnold’s Real Madrid shirt number has been confirmed.
The former Liverpool man’s move to the Spanish capital was confirmed in May. He was due to sign as a free agent, but Los Blancos paid Liverpool £10million to release him from his contract early and allow him to play in the Club World Cup.
He ended his 20-year Liverpool career on a high, playing a key role as Liverpool hoisted their second Premier League title.
While he prepares to change clubs for the first time in his professional career, he is set for another grand change as he sheds the No66 shirt he has worn since cracking the Liverpool first team in 2016.
La Liga regulations stipulate first team players must wear a shirt number between one and 25, with one, 13, and 25 held for goalkeepers. Numbers 26 through 50 are saved for reserves.
As such, the No66 shirt was no longer available, and Alexander-Arnold will instead don the No12 shirt at his Real Madrid unveiling, expected to take place on Thursday.
Some reports have also claimed the back of his shirt will simply read ‘Trent’ rather than ‘Alexander-Arnold’ in a departure from the convention set in his career to date.
He directly inherits the No12 shirt from Eduardo Camavinga, though the number has historic implications for full-backs.
It was previously worn by legendary full-back and club captain Marcelo, who held it throughout his 16-year stay at the club.
Marcelo was a keystone member of the Real Madrid squad through one of the club’s most successful periods. He became a five-time Champions League winner, a six-time La Liga champion, and a four-time Club World Cup winner in his tenure.
That bodes well for Alexander-Arnold, who could make his debut next week as Los Blancos face Al Hilal in their opening Club World Cup tie.
