That’s it. The Champions League debacle has led Florentino Pérez to the brink of exhaustion and has made it clear that no one is untouchable at Real Madrid. Anyone can leave, and one of the players most likely to go, given the multiple million-dollar offers he has received, is Rodrygo.
Rodrygo, from 100 to zero
Of the attacking players, Rodrygo seemed to be the only one with consistency at Real Madrid and who has appeared in the big moments in recent weeks. The Whites only managed two goals in 210 minutes of the tie against Atlético Madrid, and one of those, the one that opened the scoring, was scored by Rodrygo. The goal against Atlético makes him the fifth Real Madrid player to reach 25 goals in the Champions League.
In the first leg of the Champions League round of 16 at the Santiago Bernabéu against Atlético Madrid, the player opened the scoring and sent a clear message: “I’m still here,” just after kissing the Real Madrid badge and gesturing with his fingers towards the Santiago Bernabéu pitch.
Everything seems to indicate that Rodrygo will be a vital part of Real Madrid’s 2025-26 project. Jude Bellingham singled out Rodrygo as “the most talented and gifted player at Real Madrid”… before concluding that “he is the player who sacrifices the most and never complains.” However, there are offers on the table from Saudi Arabia and Manchester City that could jeopardize his future at the club.
Nevertheless, in recent weeks Rodrygo seems to have disappeared, just like his teammates in the trident. Rodrygo, Mbappé, and Vinicius form the attacking trident of Real Madrid. They are Carlo Ancelotti’s first choice to form the Whites’ attack this season. A trident that in terms of numbers is far behind the big names in Europe.
Individually and in specific matches, the three have had moments of brilliance, but the truth is that against Arsenal, the trio’s contribution was sterile. Between them, they had two shots on target at the Emirates, both from Mbappé. In total, they had seven shots on goal in 90 minutes of play.
Many suitors for Rodrygo
Rodrygo Goes continues to attract suitors looking to take him away from Real Madrid, all of them from the Premier League, and the latest club to join the bidding for the Brazilian has been Chelsea. After interest from Manchester United, Manchester City, and Liverpool (the latter seems to have pulled out after Salah’s renewal), it is now the London club that is considering making an offer to the club and the player that could see him move on next season.
Chelsea are preparing an offer that could jeopardize Rodrygo’s future at Real Madrid. They are expected to submit an offer in excess of €100 million. The Premier League club are willing to offer the 23-year-old a more prominent role and a substantial salary, making Chelsea an attractive option for the winger.
It is striking that those close to the Brazilian footballer are remaining silent about the offers coming in from the Premier League. The player’s father sat down with Manchester City’s board a few months ago, and interest from United and Chelsea seems to be a reality, but those close to him are neither confirming nor denying anything.