Mural of Real Madrid player Trent Alexander-Arnold vandalized in Liverpool: "Goodbye, rat"

" I'm just a normal lad from Liverpool whose dream has come true." That phrase, painted on a wall in the vicinity of Anfield , had become a symbol of local pride for years. It was the mural dedicated to Trent Alexander-Arnold , one of the prodigal sons of the neighborhood, the boy who grew up in the streets of West Derby dreaming of wearing the Liverpool shirt... and who did it

But this morning, ahead of the eagerly awaited Liverpool-Real Madrid match, the mural was completely destroyed. The figure of the footballer, carefully painted in 2019, has been covered with white paint, and over it you can read a forceful and painful message for the player: "Goodbye, you rat" . The attack has generated indignation among neighbors and sadness among those who had turned that corner into a small place of pilgrimage for fans of the club. "It was a mural that represented more than just a player, it represented a story of overcoming adversity and love for the club," a local resident told MARCA .

According to local residents, it all happened at around 11pm. Some boys arrived with some paint cans against the mural of Trent. " This is not usual, it is a shame and a little scary ," the owners of the house where the tribute to the Englishman is located told MARCA. Thus, at around 11am (local time) the first operators appeared to restore the mural to its original state.

A tribute created in 2019... after winning the Champions League

The mural was created by the fan group The Anfield Wrap to commemorate the Champions League triumph in Madrid in 2019 against Tottenham . That season, Alexander-Arnold was one of the emerging stars of European football, a symbol of the fast-paced, ambitious play that had taken Liverpool back to the top of the continent .

However, his move to Real Madrid, announced after his contract expired on June 30, completely changed the perception many had of him . After 20 years at the club, from the youth ranks to winning every possible title with the first team, his decision not to renew and leave for free was seen as a betrayal . Although in his farewell he spoke of "seeking new challenges and experiences away from home", the manner of his departure left an open wound in much of the Reds' fanbase

"I think there will be a split in opinion, but most people are still warm after what happened last year , so there will be some applause, but mostly boos," journalist Juan Yague , who has been covering Liverpool for seven years, told MARCA . Around Anfield, the atmosphere is tense. Some supporters argue that Alexander-Arnold deserved to leave through the front door after so many years of service . Others, however, feel that he broke the most sacred bond between a player and his club. Anfield will speak tonight. And Trent must listen .