Real Madrid board ‘surprised’ by Xabi Alonso’s handling of 27-year-old star | OneFootball

Trent Alexander-Arnold’s time at Real Madrid has not gone as expected so far. 

The English full-back, who joined the Spanish giants amid high expectations, finds himself in a rather uncomfortable position under Xabi Alonso. 

Despite being fit and ready to contribute, Alexander-Arnold continues to sit behind Federico Valverde, who is naturally a midfielder but has been used at right-back in recent matches.

According to reports from AS, the Real Madrid hierarchy has been left quite surprised by how Alonso has managed Alexander-Arnold since his arrival. 

The club expected him to play a more prominent role, especially after recovering from his recent injury, but his continued absence from the starting eleven has raised eyebrows internally.

What is going on with TAA?

The England international’s recent benching against Rayo Vallecano was particularly unexpected. 

Since he was fully fit, there was an opportunity to restore Valverde to his usual midfield role. 

Instead, the defender watched most of the match from the sidelines and only came on after Valverde picked up an injury. 

Upon entering the field, he appeared visibly dejected and low on energy, which was a sight that did not go unnoticed.

Trent Alexander-Arnold has not been a starter for Real Madrid. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

It is worth noting that Thomas Tuchel has not called up Alexander-Arnold for the upcoming international fixtures, a decision that acts as a mixed blessing. 

While it allows the defender to regain full sharpness and rest, it also reflects his current uncertain standing at both club and national level.

Real Madrid board is surprised

The handling of the his situation has reportedly caused confusion within Real Madrid. 

His late substitution at Anfield, thrown into a hostile environment during the final ten minutes, was considered a questionable decision. 

Moreover, his exclusion from the starting lineup in recent games has only deepened the sense of surprise.

Alexander-Arnold did not feature in El Clasico, nor in the clash against Valencia, despite being named in the squad. 

Sadly, his limited minutes explains the growing mystery surrounding his role. 

With Dani Carvajal unavailable, Alonso’s reluctance to use the English full-back is becoming very hard to understand.