Gary Lineker suspects Thomas Tuchel's Trent Alexander-Arnold snub is 'personal'

Trent Alexander-Arnold has not played for England since June 2025, with Gary Lineker questioning Thomas Tuchel's decision to continue leaving the Real Madrid ace out of his Three Lions squad

Gary Lineker thinks there must be some personal beef between Thomas Tuchel and Trent Alexander-Arnold(Image: Michael Regan - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

Gary Lineker suspects there's something 'personal' behind Thomas Tuchel's continued omission of Trent Alexander-Arnold from his England squad.

The 27-year-old last featured for the national side in June 2025, marking his sole appearance in the 15 months since Tuchel's appointment. Tuchel's most recent England selection has demonstrated that the Real Madrid defender sits behind Reece James, Tino Livramento, Jarell Quansah, and Ben White in the right-back hierarchy.

He also faces stiff competition for midfield positions, where he featured during Euro 2024 before being withdrawn by previous England manager Gareth Southgate following just two matches. However, Lineker remains baffled by the ex-Liverpool player's persistent exclusion, suggesting Tuchel's reasoning extends beyond purely tactical considerations.

"You know I'm obviously a big admirer of Trent," Lineker said on The Rest is Football podcast. "I think there's something personal because football-wise there's no argument. I can't see how he can not be in that squad because he has to improve your chances, even if it's from the bench.

"So I suspect there's something that Tuchel does not like about Trent Alexander-Arnold. I'm just guessing in terms of what it might be, whether it's his attitude, whether it's he's not brilliant defensively.

"There has to be something in that because it makes absolutely no sense."

The England icon went on to contend that players like White, who received a call-up to replace Quansah this month, 'are not in the same league as Alexander-Arnold'. Lineker suggested Tuchel is being 'really insulting' towards him.

(Image: Bruno Penas/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images)

"You got players playing in his position, with all due respect, that are not in the same league as him, certainly with the ball at his feet," Lineker continued. "As you saw in these kinds of games, you need someone with a bit of magic to unlock things, and he will provide you that.

"So it doesn't make sense to me. I don't know whether it's his attitude or whatever it is, I don't know. But I find it also quite insulting bringing players in.

"We talk about the Ben White situation, for example, here. He's not wanted to play for England. I wouldn't judge him on that because we don't really know what exactly happened in the camp and his reasons for not playing.

"The players do within the squad, and you know there were talks about big fall-outs and him not being treated very well, you know, and then Tuchel says he's called him up, he's brought him in.

Trent Alexander-Arnold has not made Thomas Tuchel's latest England squad(Image: Joan Valls/Urbanandsport/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

"That's fine, but I can't see how he can still be ahead of Trent Alexander-Arnold. I think that it's really insulting to a seriously top full-back. So, that's my view."

At a press conference before England's 1-1 draw with Uruguay on Friday, Tuchel was questioned about Alexander-Arnold's Instagram post stating 'Madrid and nothing more' following Real's victory over city rivals Atletico ahead of the international break. The phrase references a popular chant among supporters at the Bernabeu.

"As a response to not being nominated?" Tuchel replied. "Well, fair enough, fair enough. I think it is a very hard decision that we took. No doubt about his talent, no doubt about his career, and what he can give to teams.

"We created a slightly different game model when he was not in camp in September, October, November - it was a game model that was built on intensity and positivity, built even on the profile of the right full-back on overlaps, underlaps, very intense. It was a slightly different profile of players in camp who performed so well. We just stick to these guys."