Trent Alexander-Arnold shirt number: Why ex-Liverpool man can’t wear 66 at Real Madrid

Real have also revealed Alexander-Arnold will wear the name ‘Trent’ on the back of his shirt.

Using a first name rather than a surname on the back of a shirt is not uncommon. Players including Alexander-Arnold’s former team-mates Virgil van Dijk and Darwin Nunez use their first name, as have others such as Dele Alli, Sergio Busquets, Memphis Depay, James Rodriguez, Alexis Sanchez and Jobe Bellingham.

Alexander-Arnold has also changed his handle on social media platform Instagram from ‘trentarnold66’ to ‘trent’.

In his first Real news conference, Alexander-Arnold explained he wanted to simplify his name.

“People call me Alexander, Arnold, Alex and Trent. There’s a lot going on. So I thought let’s make it easy,” he said.

Use of a mononym – particularly one which is fairly unique – is also seen as a strength in branding and merchandising as it stands out and is easier to remember.

Mononyms are often used as part of a branding strategy by talent agencies who manage singers, actors, and other high-profile public figures.