How can he leave now? Trent Alexander-Arnold gets HEART-BREAKING reminder

Trent Alexander-Arnold was given a heart-breaking reminder of what he means to Liverpool. How can he leave now?

Trent Alexander-Arnold is on the brink of leaving Liverpool. The right-back's contract expires at the end of the season and he's yet to agree on a new one.

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There's no question that Liverpool want him to re-sign. Why wouldn't they?

He's one of the most talented players in the world while also holding homegrown status at Liverpool. It doesn't get much better than that.

But Real Madrid are eager to sign Alexander-Arnold. It now appears he'll either be there or at Anfield next season - no one else seems to be in the running.

We say 'appears' and 'seems' because none of it is clear. Alexander-Arnold, unlike Mo Salah and Virgil van Dijk, never addresses his contract situation publicly.

There's very little reported, outside of the Spanish press relentlessly getting across how much Real Madrid want him. Los Blancos did try to get him in January, of course, but the Reds rejected their low-ball offer.

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There's hope at Liverpool that they can keep him, though. And he got a real tug at his heartstrings recently that should really convince him to stay.

Trent Alexander-Arnold's real worth to Liverpool

Liverpool put out a video this week for World Book Day where kids from the academy read passages about first-team players - who subsequently burst out of the walls to greet them. Alexander-Arnold was joined by Andy Robertson and Mo Salah for the video.

The kids had absolutely no idea that their heroes were present, instead believing they were trying to win a prize of appearing in a video with them. So when the kids were asked questions beforehand, they thought they were merely talking to the production crew.

Only, they weren't and the three Liverpool legends were listening in. What's striking, then, is how many of the youngsters named Alexander-Arnold as the player they admired the most.

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It was all for the same reason, too: he came up through the academy like they dream of doing. They're all in the same position he was over a decade ago. They all hope to follow in his footsteps.

That's an incredibly special value to a football club. Alexander-Arnold isn't just a great player like Salah but someone the academy kids admire above everyone else.

He's their example and the proof that their dream is worth dreaming. It's heartbreaking to hear all of hat while knowing full well that Alexander-Arnold could be throwing that away in the summer to play for Real Madrid.

What he means to Liverpool is genuinely special and he won't get that anywhere else. Certainly not at Real Madrid.

So how can he leave after hearing all that?

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