Trent Alexander-Arnold shut down Sir Alex Ferguson with a six-word answer when the legendary Manchester United manager asked why he had not signed for the Red Devils

Former Liverpool player Trent Alexander-Arnold rejected Sir Alex Ferguson when the iconic boss questioned why he hadn't joined Manchester United. Despite coming through the academy of the club's bitter rivals, the right-back had familial connections to Old Trafford.

The full-back became crucial to Jürgen Klopp's team following his maiden league start against United as a youngster. His precise distribution enabled him to steer his childhood club to multiple honours, including the Premier League and Champions League titles.

Alexander-Arnold opted to depart for Real Madrid as his contract drew to a close in 2025, a move which sparked controversy amongst certain Liverpool supporters.

The 28-year-old has found it difficult to exert the same impact at his new side, as he attempts to establish himself as a first-team regular under new manager José Mourinho, whose team face RB Leipzig in the Champions League on Wednesday.

The defender racked up 354 outings for Liverpool prior to his switch to the Spanish capital. While his choice to leave for Los Blancos triggered a heated response from Liverpool supporters, Alexander-Arnold had previously outlined his reasoning for turning down United as a youth player.

The right-back's uncle John Alexander served as a club secretary at United, sparking Ferguson's attention.

As recounted to the Mirror in 2018, when questioned about why he hadn't pursued a move to United, Alexander-Arnold informed Ferguson: "My mum doesn't drive on motorways."

Instead, the defender stayed with the club where he'd started training at the age of six. Alexander-Arnold ultimately decided the moment had arrived to embark on a fresh challenge following his second Premier League triumph in 2025.

"It was one of the toughest decisions of my life," he revealed last September. "Liverpool is my home; it made me who I am. But Madrid felt like the right step, at the right time. It is definitely a challenge, but it's a challenge I welcome.

"The Bernabeu is a sacred place. You feel the weight of the jersey, but that very thing pushes you to give it your all. Of course the legacy (of Real Madrid) is undeniable. But more than that, what attracted me was the ambition and the desire to prove myself in a new context.

"Yes, I feel it's a personal transformation as well as a professional one. Moving to a new country, learning a new culture, pushes you as a person. It's more than soccer."

Alexander-Arnold appeared 30 times for Real across all competitions last season but managed just 14 league starts due to injury problems. The full-back has started the current campaign as a squad rotation player under former United manager Mourinho, with summer arrival Denzel Dumfries and club captain Fede Valverde offering alternatives at right-back.

The ex-Liverpool defender remained on the bench throughout as midfielder Valverde was utilised at full-back during the weekend's clash with Sevilla. Alexander-Arnold has been named in the starting XI for three league fixtures and left among the substitutes on four separate occasions thus far this term.

In Europe's premier club competition, Mourinho experimented with the England international in a midfield role against Inter Milan before he was again left unused during Real's triumph over Roma. The right-back will be hoping to press his case against RB Leipzig on Wednesday as he seeks to establish himself as a consistent starter for the Spanish heavyweights.