Trent Alexander-Arnold was named among the substitutes for Real Madrid's La Liga clash with Real Oviedo, a match which saw Rodrygo unleash a foul-mouthed rant after being withdrawn
Trent Alexander-Arnold in Real Madrid training
Trent Alexander-Arnold faces a fight for his place at Real Madrid(Image: Real Madrid via Getty Images)
Trent Alexander-Arnold has been given a taste of the savage reality of life at Real Madrid after watching Rodrygo let rip at manager Xabi Alonso. Los Blancos have enjoyed a promising beginning to the campaign, securing two La Liga victories from two matches without conceding a single goal.
But for Sunday's clash at Real Oviedo, Alexander-Arnold found himself relegated to the bench, highlighting the wealth of talented options at new manager Alonso's disposal. Real went on to win 3-0 courtesy of a double from Kylian Mbappe and a stoppage-time effort from Vinicius Jr.
While the former Liverpool defender showed no signs of discontent after replacing starter Dani Carvajal in the closing stages, another squad member, Rodrygo, was caught seething after being replaced by Vinicius just after the hour mark.
Upon taking his place on the bench, the Brazilian was seen hurling the training shirt he'd been given to the floor before launching into an expletive-laden tirade. Spanish lip reader Velloso claimed on his X platform: "From what I can see, he's saying, 'F***! S***. Every match is the same. F***!'"
The verbal explosion was likely triggered by his limited playing opportunities for both club and country. Rodrygo managed just one starting appearance at the Club World Cup in the US and failed to feature at all during Real's crushing 4-0 semi-final loss to Paris Saint-Germain.
He was then an unused substitute in their season opener, a narrow 1-0 triumph against Osasuna. To compound his frustration, Rodrygo was recently omitted from Brazil's squad for the latest round of World Cup qualifiers by boss Carlo Ancelotti, Alonso's predecessor at the Santiago Bernabeu.
The current Real manager addressed his decision to substitute Rodrygo after the Oviedo game, saying: "We've put the World Cup behind us and this season counts.
"I'm counting on Rodrygo; it's only one match, and we shouldn't read too much into it. In a few months, I'll be able to answer with more certainty, but today it was down to the circumstances of the match and my decisions."
Rodrygo and Trent Alexander-Arnold of Real Madrid during training at Valdebebas training ground on August 05, 2025
Rodrygo and Alexander-Arnold are not certain starters for Real
However, with heightened competition from Argentine prodigy Franco Mastantuono, 18, a summer acquisition from River Plate, Rodrygo faces a battle for his position.
This could prompt the 24-year-old to pursue a departure from the Spanish capital, with Liverpool among the Premier League clubs to have been linked with the £86m-rated forward, as well as Bayern Munich. With the transfer window closing on Monday, it will be fascinating to see whether Rodrygo features in Saturday night's home encounter with Mallorca.
Meanwhile, while Alexander-Arnold certainly won't be voicing complaints like Rodrygo, Alonso has suggested he may need to accept starting on the bench at times.
Xabi Alonso in a Real Madrid press conference
Xabi Alonso has heaped praise on Alexander-Arnold's direct rival, Dani Carvajal
Following the Oviedo fixture, Alonso lauded fellow full-back Carvajal, 33, saying the experienced defender merits a recall to the Spain squad. Alonso said: "I'm very happy that he's regaining his confidence after such a long injury. At the Club World Cup, he was in the mood, but he needed more time.
"And he still does, but today he played 85 minutes very much in the Carvajal style. Competing well, communicating and taking that leadership role. Bringing a lot of sense to everything. Hopefully he'll go and, if not, he'll go soon."