Trent Alexander-Arnold was presented as a Real Madrid player on Thursday and introduced his girlfriend to the world, but the press conference has been overshadowed by the right-back’s new language skills

Trent Alexander-Arnold reveals new relationship at Real Madrid unveiling

England footballer Trent Alexander-Arnold used his unveiling as a Real Madrid player to go public with girlfriend Estelle Behnke. The 26-year-old right-back sat next to his model partner as he was presented to Spanish media and introduced himself to Real Madrid fans.

Trent, who previously dated actor Jude Law’s daughter Iris, has been in a relationship with Esetelle since October 2024. She boasts more than 75,000 followers on Instagram and recently posted pictures from a trip to Beverly Hills.

Last year, the happy couple enjoyed a romantic getaway at the exclusive £6,000-per-night Soho Farmhouse in the Cotswolds and were also seen dining at the celebrity favourite Cibo in Hale, Cheshire.

Estelle Behnke beamed as she supported her boyfriend on his special day

Trent and his new flame turned heads as their shared location tags at an exclusive members’ club in the Cotswolds sparked romance rumours. Eagle-eyed supporters had already picked up on signals of blooming love between the two following individual holiday posts.

And the relationship was confirmed on Thursday when Estelle joined the Trent’s family to watch his press conference at Real Madrid City, Madrid, and sported a stunning in a white one-shoulder dress. But, in what should have been a great day for the footballer, both personally and professionally, has been tainted due to a social media storm over Trent’s new language skills.

The 26-year-old England international, who signed a six-year deal with the Spanish giants after his contract with English champions Liverpool expired, spoke fluent Spanish confidently at his official presentation ahead of a press conference.

Estelle and Trent have been dating since October last year

His choice to speak in the language of his new club and not English surprised many, but showed the preparation which had gone into this move, something for which he was criticised by sections of the Liverpool fanbase after running down his contract with his hometown club.

“A SCOUSER speaking fluent spanish? lmaooo trent has been plotting and preparing for this move since the summer of 2022,” one Twitter (X) used commented as the clip of Trent went viral.

“Nah Trent was speaking intermediate level Spanish. He has been planning to leave for YEARSSS LOOOOOOOOOOOL,” another mused, with a third fuming: “Trent cost his boyhood club the winning goal in a Champions League final and immediately started learning Spanish to help orchestrate a move to the club he’d just lost too, don’t let anyone tell you he’s not a rat.”

Acknowledging that many – including former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp – criticised Reds fans for booing Trent during one of his final games for the club after confirming his exit, another Twitter (X) user wrote: “LOOOOOOL na we all need to apologise to Liverpool fans because Trent is all of a sudden fluent in Spanish???? I am so sorry Liverpool fans.”

Trent admitted during his presentation that Real Madrid was the only team he would have left boyhood club Liverpool for and was comfortable he made the right decision.

Trent claims he has only been learning Spanish for a few months

The 26-year-old, who has signed a six-year deal after Real Madrid paid £8.5million to release him from a contract expiring this month, rejected suggestions he had been heavily influenced by close friend and England team-mate Jude Bellingham.

He also denied he had been orchestrating the move for a long time but impressing president Florentino Perez and assembled club dignitaries by surprisingly addressing them in Spanish did nothing to calm the anger a significant section of the fanbase have felt about the way he handled his exit after 20 years at Liverpool.

“To be honest, it was never a question of where, it was whether to go or not to go but I always knew, I’ve probably known it for a long time, if I was ever to leave Liverpool, it would only be to go Real Madrid, that would be the only club for me,” said Trent, who told a press conference he had been learning Spanish “for a few months”.

“Then it gets to a point where you have to make a decision whether to go or stay and making that decision was not an easy decision because I’d been there so long, but eventually you have to make a decision and in my mind, I’ve made the right one.”