Liverpool star Trent Alexander-Arnold has reportedly made a bold move by submitting an ‘£84m bid’ to purchase the French football club, FC Nantes. The 25-year-old right-back, who has been rumoured to be pursued by Real Madrid, reportedly offered €100 million (£84m) for the Ligue 1 side through a London investment firm managed by his father, Michael. As per French sports newspaper L’Equipe, Alexander-Arnold and his father engaged in initial remote discussions with the club’s leadership during the summer, followed by face-to-face meetings more recently.
However, it seems the proposed financial offer did not align with the valuation set by Nantes owner Waldemar Kita, who is said to be displeased by the public revelation of Alexander-Arnold’s interest and has refuted the claims. Nantes is currently entangled in a legal dispute with Cardiff City involving a £100m lawsuit relating to the tragic death of striker Emiliano Sala. The striker lost his life in a plane crash five years ago while traveling from Nantes to Wales to join Cardiff City.
Besides FC Nantes, Alexander-Arnold reportedly contemplated acquiring AS Saint-Etienne and Le Havre before focusing on his bid for Nantes, a club with eight French titles under their belt. Notably, Alexander-Arnold is already a minority shareholder in the French Formula 1 team, Alpine. Concerns have arisen among Liverpool fans regarding Alexander-Arnold’s future at the club, especially with Real Madrid’s reported interest, as his contract approaches its final 18 months. The Mirror reported that new Liverpool manager Arne Slot has yet to provide updates on potential contract renewals for key players like Alexander-Arnold, Mohamed Salah, and Virgil van Dijk. Slot emphasised that contract discussions are not a distraction for him and underscored his focus on maximising his team’s performance.
In light of these developments, the future of Alexander-Arnold remains uncertain amid speculation about his potential move to Real Madrid and his unconventional interest in club ownership. As the football world awaits further developments, Alexander-Arnold’s bid to purchase FC Nantes adds an intriguing twist to his career trajectory and the broader landscape of European football ownership.