Real Madrid star Rodrygo appears to have made a decision on his future amid the arrival of new head coach Xabi Alonso.
The Br azilian, who landed in the Spanish capital from Santos upon turning 18 in 2019, didn’t end the 2024/2025 season in the best of fashions as his club went without major silverware.
As Rodrygo lost his place in the starting line up to Arda Guler, Radio MARCA reported that he didn’t want to play for Los Blancos again.
When Guler started El Clasico, and then-manager Carlo Ancelotti brought on Victor Munoz instead of Rodrygo as Madrid looked to equalize FC Barcelona in an 4-3 loss that pretty much saw the visitors cede the La Liga title in Montjuic, it seemed like the end was night for the number 11.
Recent weeks have seen him linked with a potential transfer to Arsenal, while there have been constant rumors of becoming a protagonist on Manchester City’s frontline ever since Madrid fans blasted him for praising Pep Guardiola’s team in a poorly thought out interview in 2024.
Though there doesn’t seem to have been a fallout between Ancelotti and Rodrygo, the Italian taking up the reins for the forward’s national team has meant a changing of the guard in that Xabi Alonso now mans Los Blancos’ dugout.
A video of Alonso running instructions past Rodrygo on the training ground has already done the rounds on social media, and the player himself took to Instagram by posting pictures of himself preparing for the Club World Cup with the simple caption: “HAPPY”
SPORT reports that the “tables have turned” for Rodrygo, who was been convinced to stay at Madrid and “try to be important in the team” which could above all mean taking back his spot in an attacking trident completed by Vinicius Jr. and Kylian Mbappe.
Ultimately, however, Rodrygo’s Real Madrid future might not be in his hands. With his future already threatened by Guler, we also must consider the expected arrival of River Plater wonderkid Franco Mastantuono, who should cross the Atlantic to join Alonso’s squad after the Club World Cup.