Rooney understands Trent Real Madrid swap
Wayne Rooney says he can understand why Trent Alexander-Arnold would swap Liverpool for Real Madrid having once contemplated a move to Spain himself.
The England full-back is facing an uncertain future at Anfield with his contract due to expire at the end of the season.
Widespread reports last week suggested that the 26 year-old has already decided to make the move to the Santiago Bernabeu on a free transfer.
Former Manchester United and England star Rooney, writing for BBC Sport, says the lure of playing for Los Blancos would be difficult for any player to turn down.
"If Trent Alexander-Arnold does join Real Madrid this summer, fair play to him. I was once tempted to make a big move to Spain myself," Rooney wrote. "Alexander-Arnold is 26 and out of contract at the end of the season, so he is in a position where he either commits the rest of his career to Liverpool or decides to go to Real - who clearly want him.
"If he was to leave Liverpool for any other club you might wonder why, but, because it is Real we are talking about, I don't think you could question it as a career move.
"Real are the biggest club in the world with an incredible history, so it would be a massive opportunity and I'd understand if he felt it was too good to turn down.
"Liverpool are his boyhood club, so I can understand why leaving them is more of a dilemma, but sometimes as a player you have to make these decisions about where your future lies."
Rooney reflected on the time he wanted to leave Old Trafford in 2010, citing Madrid and Barcelona as suitors that would have tempted him.
"When I told Manchester United in 2010 that I did not want to sign a new deal and put in a transfer request, three clubs came in for me," Rooney said.
"Manchester City are often talked about as being one of them, but I don't think that was ever an option for me - the teams who made an approach were Chelsea, Real and Barcelona.
"In my head, I was ready to go and play in Spain and some talks did take place.
"A deal with Real looked more likely for a couple of days but it was Barcelona whom I thought about the most, and how I might fit into their side alongside Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta, Xavi and Sergio Busquets.
"In the end I decided to stay at United, but Barca had an incredible team then and any player would have loved to have played in it.
"Real are the same now with superstars like Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Jr, so of course it must be appealing to Alexander-Arnold to think about playing alongside them - anyone would feel the same.
"He has been at Liverpool for almost 20 years - since he was six - but the reality is that most players move at some point - that's why there are so few one-club men like Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher."
