Wes Brown urges Manchester United to sign Trent Alexander-Arnold despite fierce rivalry

Wes Brown has urged Manchester United to consider signing Trent Alexander-Arnold, claiming the England international’s difficult start at Real Madrid makes him a realistic target despite the clubs’ fierce rivalry.

Alexander-Arnold left Liverpool last summer on a free transfer after two decades at Anfield, joining Real Madrid to considerable fanfare. However, his debut season in Spain was inconsistent — he started just 14 league fixtures — and he was left out of Thomas Tuchel’s England squad for the current World Cup in North America.

The departure of long-serving captain Dani Carvajal had appeared to open the door for Alexander-Arnold to claim the first-choice right-back role at the Bernabeu. But the return of José Mourinho as manager and the expected arrival of Inter Milan wing-back Denzel Dumfries could push him further down the pecking order.

“Manchester United would be a very good move for Trent Alexander-Arnold,” Brown told Compare.bet. “What a player. He would really help how Michael Carrick wants to attack teams. I think it is clear he is not really enjoying himself at Real Madrid. He would be a great player to have, and I think anyone in the Premier League would want to sign him. Who wouldn’t have Trent in their team?”

Any such transfer would rank among the most contentious in English football history. No player has moved directly between the two clubs since Phil Chisnall switched from United to Liverpool in 1964, and Michael Owen — who joined United in 2009 — remains the last player to have represented both sides, doing so 17 years ago.

Brown, 46, made 362 appearances for United across a trophy-laden 14-year career at Old Trafford. He acknowledged the move would be improbable given the intensity of the rivalry, but argued United would be unwise to dismiss the possibility entirely if the opportunity arose.