While Real Madrid were reeling from the 3-4 loss to Barcelona, another subplot quietly unfolded in the background.
The absence of Rodrygo from the entire match stood out like a sore thumb and remains a mystery that the club has yet to properly clarify.
Rodrygo, who has struggled for form in recent weeks, was left on the bench and did not feature for even a single minute in one of the most critical games of the season.
Not only did he fail to come on, but the Br azilian forward was not even seen warming up on the touchline.
Before the Clasico, Rodrygo had scored just one goal in his last 22 appearances across all competitions. That dip in performance already had fans and analysts speculating whether he might be dropped.
Carlo Ancelotti did make a tactical switch, opting for a midfield-heavy setup by starting Arda Guler alongside the usual trio. The manager seemed to double down on that decision by not turning to Rodrygo even when the game called for attacking reinforcements.
Instead, when Real Madrid needed a goal, it was Brahim Diaz who was summoned off the bench. Later, teenage sensation Endrick was given an opportunity to make an impact.
And perhaps the most telling move came when Vinicius Jr. had to be withdrawn due to an ankle issue; it was Victor Munoz, a Castilla striker making his senior debut, who was called upon, not Rodrygo.
For now, no official injury report has been issued by the club. Nor has Rodrygo’s entourage suggested any physical ailment, and this silence has only fuelled speculation. Ancelotti, however, offered a brief explanation after the game, stating,
"He wasn’t feeling well. He wasn’t at his best. I have no problem with him; he’s had a feverish process. To play him for five or seven minutes, there was only the risk of him getting injured."
But even this response raises eyebrows. The so-called “feverish process” supposedly occurred during the lead-up to the Celta Vigo game a full week earlier.
Rodrygo was left out of that match, but trained normally with the squad throughout the week and showed no signs of being unfit for El Clasico. By all available accounts, he was fully recovered and expected to be available.
This confusing timeline only adds to the sense that something is being left unsaid. It comes at a time when Rodrygo’s name is being increasingly mentioned in transfer rumours.
With Real Madrid eyeing a squad reshuffle next summer, some reports have even hinted that the Br azilian could be made available for transfer, especially if his talks with the incoming manager, Xabi Alonso, are not positive.
Whether Rodrygo’s absence was truly down to fitness or part of a broader shift in Ancelotti’s plans remains to be seen. For now, it stands as one of the more puzzling elements of an already chaotic Clasico.