Why Arnold won't be allowed to wear his favourite shirt number 66 at Real Madrid

Trent Alexander-Arnold will not be permitted to wear the shirt number 66 should he complete his summer move to Real Madrid from Liverpool.

Spanish sources reported on Tuesday that Real Madrid are extremely confident about landing the Liverpool and England right-back when his contract expires in the summer, claiming a deal is 'all set and done'.

Although sources close to Liverpool urge they have had no indication yet of any agreed or completed deal, Reds fans are beginning to prepare for life without the 26-year-old at Anfield next campaign.

If Alexander-Arnold's move goes through as Spanish reports suggest, the Liverpudlian will have to part ways with his favourite kit number due to a little-known rule in LaLiga.

Having progressed through the Reds' youth ranks to become an integral part of the team under Jurgen Klopp and now Arne Slot, Alexander-Arnold has held on to his original squad number, 66, at Anfield, despite wearing 2, 7, 8 and 10 on the international stage for England.

LaLiga rules state that no player may sport a number higher than 25, corresponding to the maximum squad size allowed to be registered during the domestic season.

If players are selected by their clubs to feature in LaLiga, they must choose a number between one and 25.

While stopping the likes of Alexander-Arnold from wearing his preferred number, the rule has also prevented LaLiga clubs from retiring shirt numbers in honour of club greats such as Lionel Messi for Barcelona or Cristiano Ronaldo for Real Madrid.

If they retired a kit number, the LaLiga club would be forced to submit squads of just 24 players, with one already taken up by the tribute.

Youth players who are not registered but still eligible to play are an exception to the rule, with the likes of Los Blancos defender Raul Asencio permitted to wear No 35 during this campaign.

Real Madrid, having been legally permitted to talk to Alexander-Arnold since January 1, made a direct approach to Liverpool on New Year’s Eve in an effort to sign him immediately — but their efforts were swiftly rebuffed.

The Premier League leaders saw no sense in cashing in on their right back in January – Madrid were willing to pay around £20million to get him early – as they were still competing in four competitions at that time. That decision has been vindicated.

Mail Sport understands those in the Spanish capital have long expected Alexander-Arnold to join but Florentino Perez was keen to respect Liverpool and did not want to make any news public. Sources in Madrid reckon completing a move is a matter of a formality at this stage.

Alexander-Arnold is currently on the treatment table after injuring his ankle in Liverpool’s Champions League exit to Paris Saint-Germain. It is understood he is targeting a return at some point in April.

Alexander-Arnold’s deal officially expires in late June with Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk both also out of contract at the same time. Liverpool remain in talks to extend those deals but no agreement has been reached yet.

Given the increasing speculation, bets were suspended on Alexander-Arnold joining Real this summer following a flurry of bets across multiple websites on Tuesday morning.

After joining their academy at the age of six, the defender made his debut as an 18-year-old in an EFL Cup tie against Tottenham in 2018.

He has since gone onto rack up 349 appearances and has been a cornerstone in Liverpool's immense success over recent years.

Across his time at Anfield, Alexander-Arnold has scored 22 goals and added 87 assists.

He has won eight trophies with his boyhood club - including the Premier League and Champions League - while he has also racked up 33 caps for England.