Overview
- Multiple outlets, including Marca and The Athletic, reported that Trent Alexander-Arnold was left out of Real Madrid’s starting XI for the Atletico derby as punishment for arriving late to a training session.
- Alvaro Arbeloa declined to confirm any disciplinary issue, saying he simply chose his best XI, with captain Dani Carvajal starting at right-back.
- Introduced on 64 minutes, Alexander-Arnold set up Vinicius Junior’s decisive goal in a 3-2 win at the Bernabeu.
- Two days earlier, Thomas Tuchel omitted him from England’s 35-man group for friendlies against Uruguay and Japan, calling it a sporting decision and preferring Tino Livramento, Djed Spence and Jarell Quansah for right-back options.
- After the match, Alexander-Arnold posted “Madrid. And nothing else” on Instagram, while Steven Gerrard publicly questioned his England exclusion and argued he remains among the country’s best 35 players.