Real Madrid's Ballon d'Or HEADLOSS should SEAL Trent Alexander-Arnold's decision

Real Madrid haven't exactly handled the Ballon d'Or result well. Take note Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Trent Alexander-Arnold made a few headlines recently as he talked about wanting to win the Ballon d'Or. He believes he can do it - but does that mean he's got to head elsewhere?

After all, La Liga has had a stranglehold on the award for well over a decade now. Real Madrid, in particular, have seen several stars lift it.

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Now, we don't believe Alexander-Arnold actually does need to go to Real Madrid to realise his goal. For one thing, Liverpool players in the past have shown it's possible to be rated up there with the best in the world.

Vinicius Jr didn't win it this week backing that all up. In fact, the Brazilian's failure to do so could be a sign that Real aren't actually the club to be at anymore.

But it's what happened after the event that should cement Alexander-Arnold's decision.

The headloss has been generational

Real Madrid have not handled Vinicius's failure to land the award very well. First, they decided to have zero representation at the event. Then they spent all evening backing their man and claiming there was some sort of weird conspiracy against them.

But what's particularly telling is the lack of any support whatsoever for Jude Bellingham. He's a player who played an enormous past in Real Madrid's success last season, while also leading England to the Euro 2024 final.

Nothing, however, has come from the club that he should have won. Vinicius is their man - and, bizarrely, Dani Carvajal after him.

Absolutely no one would support Carvajal as the world's best right-back let alone the best outright player. Real also appear to hold that view as they've been chasing Alexander-Arnold since at least March.

All of this should show Alexander-Arnold that even if he were to thrive in Madrid and become a contender, that doesn't necessarily make him their contender. In fact, he almost certainly wouldn't be - Vinicius is the face of that club. Kylian Mbappé after him.

Alexander-Arnold would, however, be the man at Liverpool for as long as he wants to be. He simply wouldn't get that over there.

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