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Rafa Benitez has revealed he changed the Liverpool academy structure while Trent Alexander-Arnold was just beginning his journey with the club.

Alexander-Arnold and Benitez both joined the Reds in 2004, with the former being picked up at just six years of age and the latter becoming the manager at Anfield after an impressive stint in Spain with Valencia.

In an interview released by Sky Sports this week, Benitez revealed that he unknowingly played a role in the 26-year-old's development at the club.

“I will tell you something that maybe you don’t know,” Benitez said.

He was one of the young players who came in with a way to do things.”

Alexander-Arnold's 21-year journey with the Reds could end this summer as Real Madrid targets the right-back on a free transfer.

If they cannot, I’m sure they will have a new option and the new player will come and will be another kind of player with energy and give something different."

Benitez, a boyhood Real Madrid fan, seemingly hopes the right-back ends up at the Bernabeu

"He’s an offensive defender and he’s playing as a midfielder sometimes," Benitez said

"Real Madrid is an attacking team, the best team in Spain and they will be the best team because they have the potential.

"For an offensive defender in an offensive team, you have more chances to make assists and create situations in attack – they will be good for him as a player.

"He’s doing that at Liverpool but with Real Madrid, you can guarantee he will do that for years

But if he goes, and as a Real Madrid kid all my life, it will also be good for Real Madrid and for him."