Xabi Alonso has arrived at Real Madrid with energy and a desire to change things so that the team excites and inspires the fans. It will not be an easy task after a very bad year in terms of feelings and results, but his signing alone has already excited Madrid fans. He is a coach who has said that he likes to be close to his players, but he is also methodical and demanding, so from the day he takes charge of his first training session on June 9, his work is expected to bear immediate fruit in the Club World Cup, which begins just a few days later.
The coach has not given many clues about the type of play and lineup Real Madrid will have, but he has made it clear that he knows the team and has ideas and plans for what he wants to do, starting with a conversation with each and every player. These conversations, beyond getting to know each other, will serve Xabi Alonso and his men to talk about the future, as there are several players whose future is up in the air.
Rodrygo could be heading for the Premier League
One of the players whose future is up in the air is Rodrygo. He has had a very difficult season with little playing time, a goal drought, and a drop in performance that has kept him out of the team in recent games due to an injury that has not been officially announced. Everything points to mental exhaustion due to his inability to handle the criticism he has received for his poor performance.
The Brazilian striker has not scored in La Liga since January, although he did score in the Champions League on March 4. Even so, it has been more than two months since he last found the net. His role in the Cup final was negligible, with no involvement in the 45 minutes he was on the pitch. Since April 26, he has not played a single minute for Real Madrid and now, according to Ancelotti, he has not been called up for Brazil due to injury.
The player seems unhappy and has attracted the interest of several Premier League teams, including Chelsea and Arsenal. The financial power of the English league makes it more than feasible that they could put the more than $90 million demanded by Real Madrid on the table, as the club is willing to let him go, but not on just any terms.
Endrick has an option in Italy
Another attacking player who could leave this summer is Endrick. Endrick failed to break his drought in the last few games in which he earned a starting spot. Neither against Sevilla, where he was injured, nor against Mallorca did he make the most of his starting spot. Now, as we said, he is injured and will miss the Club World Cup, so Xabi’s decision on the player could be delayed.
In this context, a strong option has emerged to offload the young Brazilian striker. “Endrick has offers from many clubs in Europe to go out on loan. There is one club that is repeatedly knocking on Real Madrid’s door to take him on loan, as the club does not want to sell him, and that is Juventus,” said journalist Eduardo Inda on El Chiringuito.
Xabi, with the idea of signing a number 9 in mind
The idea that Real Madrid needs a pure number 9, a new Joselu, has been around for months, but the possible departure of one of these two players could push the deal forward. Several names have emerged, including Osasuna player Ante Budimir, but in the last few hours a new name has been added as an option for the Whites. Defensa Central claims that in the search for that new Joselu, Xabi Alonso has asked about Álvaro Rodríguez, a Real Madrid player on loan this season at Getafe, where he has only scored two goals in 28 games. The coach will want to see him in action and make a decision.