Why Alexander-Arnold Will Not Be Allowed to Wear 66 at Madrid
Farewell to Anfield, and to 66
It feels surreal to write it, but Trent Alexander-Arnold will no longer be a Liverpool player come the end of the 2024/25 season. The boy from West Derby, who grew up idolising Steven Gerrard and went on to carve out his own legacy from right-back, is set to join Real Madrid. His emotional goodbye was confirmed on social media, where the 25-year-old thanked the club, the fans, and the city that shaped him.
A Premier League champion again under Arne Slot, Alexander-Arnold leaves as one of Liverpool’s most decorated modern-day players. Champions League, Premier League, Club World Cup, FA Cup, League Cup, Super Cup—his medal collection rivals the best.
Yet among the many things that defined his time at Anfield, perhaps nothing was more visually distinctive than that number 66 on his back. Unusual. Unfussy. Unforgettable. It became his identity, a symbol of his rise from academy prospect to world-class talent. And yet, in Madrid, it will disappear.
La Liga Rules Block Number 66 Move
Alexander-Arnold will not be allowed to wear 66 at Real Madrid due to La Liga’s strict squad number regulations. Unlike the Premier League, La Liga prohibits first-team players from wearing numbers higher than 25. It’s a quirky rule that, for years, has caused logistical headaches and odd outcomes—Barcelona, for instance, were unable to retire Lionel Messi’s number 10 because of it.
In Spain, numbers beyond 25 are strictly reserved for youth and reserve players. As soon as a player is officially registered with the first team, they must switch to a number within that 1–25 range. So for Alexander-Arnold, there’s simply no getting around it.
Madrid Move Could Mean Iconic Number Switch
With 66 off the table, Madrid will have to assign Alexander-Arnold a new identity. Options like 12, 24, and 25 could be available. But more intriguingly, the likely departure of Luka Modric opens up something bigger: the number 10 shirt.
It’s a number steeped in Madrid mythology—Luis Figo, Mesut Özil, and Modric himself have all worn it. For a full-back, it’s unconventional. But Alexander-Arnold has never played by convention. If there’s a player bold enough to wear 10 from right-back, it’s him.
Liverpool’s 66 Will Always Belong to Trent
Back on Merseyside, there will be a pause when the squad lists are printed next season. The absence of 66 will say everything. It might be years before another academy graduate dares to claim it. In many ways, it belongs to Trent forever.
