Kostas Tsimikas makes Trent Alexander-Arnold exit admission after Liverpool supporters 'saw it differently'
Kostas Tsimikas says "the whole world must respect" Trent Alexander-Arnold's decision to leave Liverpool for Real Madrid. But the Reds defender also accepts the supporters' right to view the departure differently to the squad itself.
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Alexander-Arnold joined los Blancos at the beginning of the month after the Reds engineered a £10m transfer for him to leave a month before his contract technically expired, meaning the Premier League champions bagged a sizable sum for a player who was on the cusp of a move as a free agent.
The West Derby-born defender was subjected to loud boos at Anfield when he made his second-half substitute appearance in the 2-2 draw against Arsenal last month and while Tsimikas says the team have not been offended by their former colleague's decision, he also understands the depth of emotion from those who reacted angrily.
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"Okay, for Trent what to do," Tsimikas told Sport24. "After all, it's work. That was his choice, he wanted to see something else. Trent also goes to the best team, after Liverpool! (laughs).
"Okay, they are choices, from then on the whole world must respect it. When you make this decision, you have to be ready to accept everything, we are our choices. He wanted to leave, he chose it.
"From then on, you can see what he has given to the team, you see what Liverpool have got since Trent started playing.
"All you can do is give him a good, warm round of applause. Tell him good luck. Because what he gave is too many [memories]. It will be difficult for any other player, even a transfer with a lot of money, to be able to do what Trent did.
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"But yes, surely the locals saw it differently, they expected the Scouser to stay forever, until he hung up his boots. This is what creates an extra tension."
Tsimikas added: "We within the team understood that he wants to leave, that there is no [obligation] to stay.
"That's what he wanted from the beginning, he wanted to play for Real, so from the beginning of the season it seemed like it was the last season, he wanted something different, as he said.
"I wish him all the best from the bottom of my heart, because we were very, very close. We made a lot of jokes together and it's hard to say goodbye to a player who every day we've been together for five years.
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"I wish him all the best, without injuries and okay, you are a player, a great player, what can we discuss."
Alexander-Arnold made his Real Madrid debut in Wednesday's 1-1 draw with Al-Hilal in the Club World Cup.
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