Trent Alexander-Arnold dropped for Real Madrid derby fixture due to lateness

Trent Alexander-Arnold has been dropped for Real Madrid’s starting line-up against Atletico Madrid for being late to training this week.

This marks the second league game in a row that he has not been a part of. Alexander-Arnold was left on the bench against Elche, as head coach Alvaro Arbeloa wanted to give him some rest, but returned to the starting line-up for Madrid’s win against Manchester City on Tuesday.

Sources with knowledge of the situation, left anonymous to protect relationships, confirmed that the England international’s absence on Sunday was a form of punishment after he didn’t arrive on time to a training session.

Alexander-Arnold, 27, has made 20 appearances this season despite missing multiple weeks with a hamstring injury and then sustaining a right thigh issue.

The right-back was left out of Thomas Tuchel’s 35-man England squad this week for this month’s friendlies against Uruguay and Japan, the final two games before the head coach names his provisional World Cup squad. Tuchel called the choice a “sporting decision” to stick instead with Jarell Quansah, Tino Livramento and Djed Spence.

Madrid entered their fixture against Atletico second in La Liga, seven points below Barcelona though the Catalan club have played one more game.