Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold may be close to completing a move to Real Madrid, but the English defender is set to find a problem if he makes the rumoured transfer Trent Alexander-Arnold’s potential switch to Real Madrid is gathering momentum, but the Liverpool right-back may face a major hurdle should he complete his blockbuster transfer to the Santiago Bernabeu. PAY ATTENTION: Stay updated with the Latest Soccer News in Nigeria from Pulse Sports Despite reports from Spain claiming the deal is all set and done, Alexander-Arnold would face an issue complying with a LaLiga rule. Alexander-Arnold facing Real Madrid hurdle For years, Alexander-Arnold has proudly sported the No. 66 jersey at Liverpool, a squad number he received while progressing through the Reds’ academy. Despite establishing himself as a world-class right-back, he never switched to a more conventional number, instead embracing his unique identity. However, should he finalise his sensational free transfer to Madrid, he will be forced to choose a different number. LaLiga has a strict squad registration rule, allowing first-team players to wear only numbers between one and 25. Youth players who aren’t officially registered for the season can take numbers from 26 onward, but for someone of Alexander-Arnold’s stature, this exception is out of the question. As a result, if Alexander-Arnold moves to Real Madrid, he must leave No. 66 behind and pick a number within the official first-team range. Real Madrid anticipate Alexander-Arnold signing While Liverpool fans remain hopeful their homegrown star will extend his contract, reports from Spain suggest that Real Madrid has all but wrapped up the deal. Los Blancos have been tracking Alexander-Arnold for months and even made a failed attempt to sign him in January, offering £20 million for an early transfer. However, Liverpool swiftly rejected the bid, choosing to keep their key player. With his contract set to expire in June, Real Madrid can legally negotiate directly with the player, and club president Florentino Pérez is reportedly confident that Alexander-Arnold will become a Los Blancos player in the summer. Alexander-Arnold is currently recovering from an ankle injury suffered during Liverpool’s Champions League exit to PSG but is expected to return by April.