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- 5 hours ago
Xabi Alonso pushes Rodrygo to Arsenal
Carlo Garganese
- Updated: 2 Jul 2025 09:10 BST
- 5 min read
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Rodrygo is being pushed towards Arsenal after being left out by Real Madrid again.
Real Madrid beat Juventus 1-0 in the last-16 of the Club World Cup on Tuesday evening but Rodrygo was once again nowhere to be seen.
STATS
Rodrygo
F (R), M (RL)
Real Madrid
Rodrygo
F (R), M (RL)
Real Madrid
For the third game in a row, Rodrygo was named on the substitutes bench.
And for the second match in a row, the Brazilian remained on the bench without seeing a single minute of action.
This has unsurprisingly added further fuel to the feeling that Rodrygo will be sold this summer.
Rodrygo to Arsenal?
Rodrygo is one of Arsenal's targets for the summer transfer window, as Mikel Arteta plans to strengthen an attack that badly misfired last season.
The Gunners have had preliminary contacts for the Brazilian, with AS journalist Eduardo Burgos reporting recently that Arsenal are optimistic of their chances of signing Rodrygo.
Burgos says that Arsenal already held talks with Rodrygo's entourage several weeks ago.
The Gunners' chances of signing Rodrygo will be complicated by his wage demands.
AS reports that Rodrygo will demand a salary of €12 million net per season at the Emirates.
This will make him the highest paid player in the Arsenal squad.
Whether or not Arsenal can afford or are willing to pay such a big salary for a player who will also cost them a transfer fee of at least €75m remains to be seen.
Rodrygo has been heavily linked with an exit from Real Madrid this summer in order to find first-team football.
The signing of Kylian Mbappe last summer saw the Brazilian's status within the squad diminish.
With the focus on Mbappe, Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham it has proven hard to find star status and space.
And at the Club World Cup it seems he has fallen even further down the pecking order.
Fabrizio Romano reported a fortnight ago that Arsenal are very much in the race for Rodrygo.
“On Rodrygo, what I’m hearing, is that the position of Arsenal is absolutely confirmed,” Romano said on his YouTube channel.
“Arsenal like and appreciate Rodrygo and will add, not just a striker, but an important winger to their squad in the summer transfer window.
“Yes, they like the player and they are informed on the player, but they are not negotiating with Real Madrid, they have not approached the club or the player. We’re not even at the early stages.”
Arsenal like Rodrygo's flexibility as he can play across the frontline, as well as his scoring ability.
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 267 appearances for Real Madrid over the last five 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.
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