The right-back unexpectedly found himself on the substitutes’ bench at the start of the city derby.
Reports circulated shortly before the thrilling 3-2 match began that head coach Alvaro Arbeloa had initially intended to start the Englishman at right-back. However, he allegedly opted to bench Alexander-Arnold for ‘disciplinary reasons’.
Further details suggested the 27-year-old had arrived late for a training session shortly before the game, costing him his usual starting spot. Sporting reasons were not suspected, as ‘TAA’ had shown significantly better form in recent weeks than his replacement, Dani Carvajal, who was still recovering from a knee injury and not yet at 100 percent.
Furthermore, a rest period was deemed unnecessary, given that several days were available for recovery between the Champions League match against Manchester City on Tuesday and the league clash against Atletico on Sunday.
Head coach Arbeloa strongly denied the claims and reports of disciplinary action after the final whistle. «No, no,» he began, «I simply field the best possible eleven in every game. The team I consider most suitable starts. Carvajal delivered a good performance.»
After 63 minutes, the veteran player was substituted and replaced by Alexander-Arnold. In the 72nd minute, TAA assisted Vinicius Jr.’s game-winning goal.
‘Like a Gentleman’: Alexander-Arnold Accepts His Punishment
After the match, the former Liverpool star did not comment on the events. However, reports confirmed that a late arrival for training was indeed the reason for his unusual role as a substitute.
It was reported that several Real Madrid stars had recently failed to arrive on time, and the right-back himself allegedly reached the training ground 20 minutes past the scheduled time for Saturday’s final session. Arbeloa reportedly informed him of the decision for the Atletico derby, while Alexander-Arnold apologized to his coach, captain, and the rest of the team for his misconduct.
He was reportedly in complete agreement with his punishment and accepted Arbeloa’s decision «like a gentleman.»
A Bitter Week for Alexander-Arnold: Tuchel Opts Against National Call-Up
Arbeloa’s approach of punishing tardy stars with a benching is not unique in LaLiga. Last season, Hansi Flick at FC Barcelona repeatedly benched players who arrived late for appointments, showing no leniency. However, such incidents are now reportedly more often resolved through internal fines.
For Alexander-Arnold, the benching marked a low point in a personally bittersweet week. While celebrating Champions League progression and a derby victory on one hand, he faced exclusion from the national squad on the other. England’s national coach, Tuchel, had named an extended 35-player squad for upcoming friendly matches against Uruguay and Japan. Despite this large roster, ‘TAA’ did not make the cut for the Three Lions’ next fixtures.
«I know what Trent can offer us, and we’ve decided to stick with our current players,» explained Tuchel. «I know his strengths; he is a great player, but it’s a sporting decision.» Alexander-Arnold had previously been absent from Tuchel’s squad in November, and in October, he missed out due to a thigh injury. The former Liverpool player last featured in June, coming on as a substitute when England won 1-0 against Andorra in a World Cup qualifier.
Real Madrid originally signed Alexander-Arnold (contract until 2031) on a free transfer from Liverpool last summer. However, €10 million was paid to Anfield, making him eligible for the Club World Cup before his official contract expiry. For Los Blancos, he has yet to score a goal in 21 appearances but has provided three assists.
Trent Alexander-Arnold: 2025/2026 Season Statistics
| Category | Value |
|---|---|
| Matches | 21 |
| Minutes Played | 1,114 |
| Goals | — |
| Assists | 3 |
| Yellow Cards | 2 |
| Red Cards | — |