Alexander-Arnold pays back Real Madrid signing fee

There were plenty of eyebrows raised when Real Madrid paid Liverpool around £8.4m for Trent Alexander-Arnold when they could have got him for free just a month later.

Xabi Alonso's side were determined to sign the right-back in time for the start of their Club World Cup campaign, and they opted to pay the fee to release the 26-year-old from his contract early.

It was certainly a bonus for Liverpool, who looked like losing their prized asset for nothing.

But - on the day Alexander-Arnold would otherwise have been able to sign for the Spanish club - his first month with them has more than paid for their calculated gamble.

Having started every game in Real's Club World Cup campaign, Alexander-Arnold provided his first assist as 21-year-old striker Gonzalo Garcia further enhanced his growing reputation by heading home his cross to send them past Juventus and into the quarter-finals.

That goal alone was worth an extra £10m for Madrid, with the club having already received about £43m for just reaching the last 16.

Madrid will meet either Borussia Dortmund or Monterrey in the quarter-finals, and could earn up to £125m if they go on to win the tournament.

"Of course it was worth paying the extra money," former France full-back Gael Clichy told Dazn. "You don't have time in football, but this competition has given Real Madrid and Trent extra time.

"This has allowed Trent to get used to Real Madrid. He has to be excited by what is to come - and so will Real Madrid."

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