-
News
- 31 minutes ago
'I wasn't well' - Rodrygo opens up on mental health problems at Real Madrid
Carlo Garganese
- 7 Oct 2025 11:01 BST
- 5 min read
News
Rodrygo Goes has opened up on the mental health problems he encountered and how former Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti helped him through it.
The Brazilian star fell out of favour at Madrid towards the end of last season and didn't play again after the Copa del Rey final defeat to Barcelona in April.
STATS
Rodrygo
F (R), M (RL)
Real Madrid
Rodrygo
F (R), M (RL)
Real Madrid
Much speculation followed into the summer over Rodrygo's future and why he was not playing, and that he could make a big money move to Premier League giants like Arsenal and Man City.
The 24-year-old has now revealed that he wasn't suffering from injury or illness at the end of last season and the reason he wasn't playing was because he was suffering with his mental health.
Rodrygo opened up on how bad things got and credited Carlo Ancelotti in particular for helping him come out of the other side.
He added that he is now happy again and looking forward to a great season under Xabi Alonso at Madrid.
What did Rodrygo say?
“The truth is, I had a very difficult time on a personal level. I went a long time without speaking to anyone," Rodrygo told Diario AS.
"No one knew what I was going through. It was a very difficult time. I wasn’t well, either physically or mentally. That was really hard for me. First God, then my family… and Coach Ancelotti helped me get through all that. Carlo helped me a lot. He saw every day that I wasn’t well, that I wasn’t fit to play, that I couldn’t help the team.
“But there was no time to recover because we played every three days, and then you can’t stop to solve the problem. He saw that I’m a person and I had real problems. He understood my moment and my complicated situation. He told me: ‘Just stay here calmly, you’re not fit to play now.’ I thanked him and asked to play. But he knew he had to recover the person before the player.”
“The important thing was to be in good shape. It was a very difficult time in my life, but now I’ve overcome everything, I’m okay. Whenever I can, I thank Carletto, his son Davide, and the coaching staff. Everyone helped me, and of course my family. Now I feel nothing but joy, I’m happy, and very motivated to have a great season.
“It’s true that I’m a completely different person now. I’ve come out of it with a different mindset, a different enthusiasm, more mature. I feel very good, and I’m sure this season will be better for everyone, for the team and for me.”
Rodrygo at Real Madrid
Rodrygo joined Real Madrid from Santos for €40 million in the summer of 2019.
The 24-year-old has gone on to make 278 appearances for Real Madrid over the last six seasons, scoring 68 goals.
He has often been used as substitute but has proved a crucial member of the squad in La Liga and the Champions League.
He most famously impacted Madrid’s 2022 Champions League triumph.
He scored key goals in the quarter final win over Chelsea and the dramatic late comeback victory over Man City in the semi final.
Rodrygo scored in the 89th and 91st minute in the second leg over City to take the game into extra time which Madrid won. The Blancos then lifted the cup in the final.
His contract expires in June 2028.
Football transfer news headlines today
The 18 countries who can qualify for the 2026 World Cup this week
UEFA Women's Champions League: Who’s in it, what’s the format and who are the players to watch?
Real Madrid dressing room 'in chaos' amid Alonso showdown
Man Utd in transfer battle to sign Mexican wonderkid dubbed 'the next Chicharito'
The FootballTransfers app
Check out FootballTransfers' new app for all of football's big storylines, transfer rumours and exclusive news in one convenient place directly on your mobile device.
The FootballTransfers app is available on Google Play and in the Apple App Store. Download here:
