Football
Why Trent Alexander-Arnold Won’t Be Allowed To Wear The No 66 Shirt Should He Join Real Madrid
Kieran Lynch is a sports writer specialising in football and Formula One. He is a sports journalism graduate of Leeds Trinity University and completed a Press Association NCTJ course in Newcastle. He previously worked as a news reporter for the Eastern Daily Press in Norfolk and spent five years as a sports writer at the MailOnline.
Get to know Kieran Lynch betterPublished26 Mar 2025
Trent Alexander-Arnold won’t be allowed to wear his favourite No 66 shirt should he complete his move from Liverpool to Real Madrid.
Real Madrid are confident that they will sign the boyhood Liverpool fan on a free transfer when his contract expires.
Spanish sources claim Los Blancos feel the deal is ‘all set and done’. TalkSPORT claim that Alexander-Arnold has agreed personal terms over a five-year deal worth £220,000-per-week.
If the move does go through, Alexander-Arnold will not be allowed to wear the No 66 shirt at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Why Alexander-Arnold Won’t Be Allowed To Wear No.66 Shirt At Real Madrid
Trent Alexander-Arnold won’t be allowed to wear the No 66 shirt if he joins Real Madrid in the summer.
Real Madrid have no part in the decision and it is down to LaLiga’s stricter rules in comparison to the Premier League.
LaLiga rules dictate players can only be assigned numbers between one and 25.
The only numbers not currently used by any Real Madrid players are 12, 24 and 25.
Why Does Trent Wear No.66 At Liverpool
Trent Alexander-Arnold progressed through the youth ranks to become an integral part of the team under Jurgen Klopp and Arne Slot.
He took on the No 66 when he broke into the team and has held onto it ever since.
That is despite wearing 2, 7, 8 and 10 on the international scene with England.
Lee Ratcliffe, Liverpool’s kit management coordinator, explained that there is no sentimental reason for Alexander-Arnold wearing the No 66.
“When we get any young lads that come down from the Academy, we always try to give them a high-ish number,” he told Liverpool’s official website.
“We don’t like to give them a low number. In case they sort of think they’ve made it straight away, if you know what I mean.
“When you see him now lifting trophies and celebrating with No.66 on the back, it’s a weird feeling. It’s weird to see such a high number and for someone to be happy with it.
He added: “I think he’s that laidback that he’s obviously been given the number and thought, ‘Yeah, that’ll do me. I’ll keep that’, and not realised how iconic it’s become over the years.”