has riled fans who believe he had been perfecting his Spanish for months ahead of a long-mooted switch to Real Madrid. Unveiled as a new Los Blancos player today, the England international surprised many onlookers by speaking in perfect Spanish.

Earlier in the 2024-25 season, was reported to have been at Liverpool amid claims that he was also in discussions with Real Madrid. However, having seen the 26-year-old decide to join the La Liga giants earlier this month, many Reds fans are sceptical that this was ever the case after watching him speak fluently in Spanish. Supporters now believe that Alexander-Arnold had long been preparing to join Madrid by taking lessons in the native language, and that news of him considering an offer from Liverpool was not the case.

Speaking in fluent Spanish in Madrid, Alexander-Arnold said: "It's a dream come true. I'm very happy and proud to be here. I want to show Real Madrid fans how I play. I do realise I am signing for Real Madrid, the demands are high. I'm going to give my all for Real Madrid and the fans. I want to win many titles. I want to be a winner here and playing alongside the best players in the world. Hala Madrid."

Alexander-Arnold was initially expected to join Madrid as a free agent at the start of July. But an agreement was struck between both clubs to see him join Xabi Alonso's side a month early to take part in the Club World Cup. Liverpool are reported to have received around £10m.

Madrid's newest star quickly decided to learn from the difficulties encountered by Jude Bellingham and Gareth Bale in Madrid. In 2023, soon after his big-money move from Borussia Dortmund, Bellingham revealed that he was struggling with the language. He revealed that he was disappointing then-boss Carlo Ancelotti, and added: "I just don't speak Spanish yet... I'm sorry, but I'm encountering unexpected obstacles with this language. It's hard for me, I admit. In any case, I promise maximum commitment, guaranteed."

"My biggest piece of advice: play the game at Real Madrid," Bale warned Bellingham in December 2023. "Because if you don't play and you don't do what the press wants, talk to them [in Spanish] - basically, be a puppet - you're going to get a lot of stick."

Bale continued in an interview with : "I could speak Spanish but I wouldn't want to because I just wanted to keep everything private and quiet and not have this big fuss around me. Maybe that's why they attacked me because I never really give a lot. They probably just didn't understand me as a person."

Meanwhile, Liverpool have already moved on from Alexander-Arnold. They have signed right-back Jeremie Frimpong from Bayer Leverkusen and could soon clinch a £127m deal for Florian Wirtz from the same club.