Rodrygo could be living his last month as a Real Madrid player. The Brazilian footballer will once again be on the bench tonight against Juventus, having been overtaken by Gonzalo and Mbappé, who has been out until today, with Franco Mastantuono arriving in August. Xabi Alonso, as long as he is a member of the squad, says he is counting on him, which is obvious, but in a secondary role starting from the bench, a secondary role that the Real Madrid board is not willing to accept.
Rodrygo, overtaken by Real Madrid
The season is taking its toll on Rodrygo, especially the final stretch of the season when he was not with the team when it needed him most to achieve the impossible, something the Whites are used to doing thanks to the unity and mentality of their players. Since the Copa del Rey final, when he was substituted at halftime, he did not play again with the team until the Club World Cup. He did not look mentally prepared and did not play against Celta and Barcelona in La Liga, the last games before Ancelotti’s team said goodbye to the title. This attitude, coupled with his poor performance throughout the season, puts him at the front of the exit line, and it seems that there is no turning back.
And there seems to be no turning back because Xabi Alonso has made it clear that he does not count on him as his first choice, and probably not even as his second choice. He gave him a chance in the first game, it was a disaster, in the second he didn’t play, and in the third he played the final stretch, where he was also unable to contribute, looking out of his depth, anxious, and inaccurate. Gonzalo has surpassed him, he is ahead of him in the rotation, and all this without Mbappé being able to make his debut due to gastroenteritis. The final nail in the coffin is the arrival of Franco Mastantuono, who will join Xabi Alonso’s coaching staff on August 15. There could be room for everyone, but not at any price, and the price of having Rodrygo on the bench is not worth it.
Rodrygo and the Premier League
Arsenal seems to be the team most determined to sign the Brazilian international, although it is not the only one. Manchester City, Manchester United, and Chelsea are closely monitoring the situation between now and the end of the Club World Cup. However, for the moment, the figures on offer are not convincing Rodrygo, who currently wants to stay in the Spanish capital, but it seems unlikely that he will be able to do so, and it is likely that one of the aforementioned teams will pay him the salary he is asking for.
It should be noted that this season is prior to the World Cup and Rodrygo wants to ensure he is with Brazil next summer. It would not be advisable to miss the tournament due to a lack of playing time when he could be getting it at the highest level with any other team.
And Real Madrid?
Real Madrid, given the player’s role in the team, wants to sell and has put a price tag of €100 million on him, although they would be willing to lower it to €80 million. The club is undergoing a rebuild, there are new signings, more will arrive, and they need to free up space in the squad and reduce the wage bill. They know that Rodrygo will have less of a role than in previous seasons and this is an important opportunity to cash in. With Gonzalo and Mastantuono, they have the position covered, and they still have Brahim and Endrick who can also mitigate the Brazilian’s departure.
The future of Rodrygo does not seem to be linked to Real Madrid. After the Club World Cup, negotiations will begin for the player to move to the Premier League.