With Real Madrid still fighting for the league title with Barcelona, this is not the time to go on a witch hunt and look for someone to blame for why the season has gone the way it has, with the team being knocked out of the Champions League at the first hurdle and losing the Copa del Rey final to Barcelona. However, there is already open talk of the departure of Ancelotti and of a player who has been a star until now but who could be shown the door due to his poor season: Rodrygo Goes.
Singled out this season
Rodrygo’s season at Real Madrid has not been the best. In recent weeks, criticism of the Brazilian player has been constant due to his poor statistics, but also because of his unambitious and passive attitude in most of the games he has played this season. More was expected from the attacking players given the weaknesses the team has suffered in offense.
The match in which he was most singled out and which has undoubtedly marked his future was the Copa del Rey final. The criticism received by the Brazilian that day bothered him greatly and opened the door to his departure at that very moment. “Rodrygo is very upset after what happened at La Cartuja and is not ruling out leaving Real Madrid and accepting one of the offers he has,” said journalist Eduardo Inda on El Chiringuito.
It should be noted that the criticism he received for his role in the final is justified. Rodrygo started the match on the front line with Vinicius due to Mbappé’s ankle injury. The Brazilian enjoyed 45 minutes before Ancelotti decided he was a problem and brought on the Frenchman. In those 45 minutes, Rodrygo’s statistics were 0 goals, 0 assists, 0 shots on goal, 0 shots attempted, 0 key passes, 0 successful crosses, and 5 turnovers.
The performance problem is not limited to a single game. His goal tally this season is far from what was expected and seems to have stalled long ago. In La Liga, the Brazilian has not scored a goal since January 19, and he has yet to open his account in the Copa del Rey. In the Champions League, he last found the net on March 4 against Atlético.
Rodrygo’s suitors
With this scenario, coupled with signs that Real Madrid are performing better in attack with the Vinicius-Mbappé partnership than with the trio including Rodrygo, the Whites are considering that selling the player is the best option, given that they would receive a sum of money that would allow them to enter the transfer market with guarantees.
The Brazilian has no shortage of suitors. From the Premier League, Manchester United, Manchester City, and Liverpool have all shown interest, with Chelsea being the latest to join the bidding war for the Brazilian. The English side is preparing an offer that could exceed $100 million, making it impossible to refuse, especially with the player wanting to leave the Bernabéu.
Real Madrid has not forgotten Nico Williams
With his departure a possibility, Real Madrid is considering options, one of which is Nico Williams, who has been on the club’s radar on several occasions. The Whites are not the only team in the fight to sign the player. Chelsea is making progress in his signing, leading a race that also includes Arsenal. At the same time, FC Barcelona would be completely out of the running. The winger has a release clause valued at €60 million. In addition, he would fill the position left vacant by Rodrygo and, above all, increase the Spanish representation in the Real Madrid squad.