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Trent Alexander-Arnold has dismissed speculation from Liverpool supporters that he had been studying Spanish in preparation for a switch to Real Madrid.
The England international completed his transfer to the La Liga club during the summer following the expiry of his Anfield contract. Alexander-Arnold is set to return to Liverpool next month when Madrid takes on the Reds in the Champions League.
At his official presentation, Alexander-Arnold demonstrated near-fluent Spanish, prompting some Reds supporters to suggest he had been studying the language well before his transfer was confirmed. However, he appears to have dismissed that theory by revealing that he only began lessons in May, with his move being completed later that month.
In a video posted on social media, he said: "Hi, I'm Trent. I started learning Spanish with Sara five months ago.
"I didn't speak any Spanish before. I wanted to learn Spanish to communicate better with my teammates, my coach, and the Madrid fans - and adapt better to the culture.
"I really like the lessons because they were very football-based. The terminology we were learning about was press conferences, interviews, and vocabulary that I would need to talk to my teammates on a day-to-day basis within the club. This helped me very, very much, and I really enjoyed every lesson."
Additionally, Alexander-Arnold's instructor has also provided insight into his language learning journey. Writing on social media, football language tutor Sara said: "Five months. That's all it took, but it wasn't easy.
"Trent didn't just learn Spanish. He chose to start from zero, to sound imperfect, to keep showing up, day by day.
"When he stood on that stage in Madrid and spoke with calm, clarity, and heart, it wasn't about fluency.
"It was about respect, courage, and a genuine desire to belong.
"As his language coach, that moment meant everything. Because what I saw wasn't just a player speaking another language, it was a person growing beyond himself.
"In football, words can build trust, connection, identity. And this is what true professionalism really looks like."
The 27-year-old has endured a stuttering beginning to his Madrid career, managing only five outings across all competitions thus far owing to fitness setbacks. He made his return to the matchday squad last weekend with a substitute's spot against Barcelona.
The right-back may now find himself thrust into the starting XI this weekend following Dani Carvajal's injury blow. Liverpool hosts Madrid at Anfield on November 4.
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