Is Rodrygo being pushed out the exit door by Real Madrid?

Rodrygo Goes may be edging closer to the exit door at Real Madrid, with recent developments casting doubt on his long-term future at the club. The Brazilian winger has seen his involvement significantly reduced under new head coach Xabi Alonso, particularly during the recently concluded Club World Cup, where Alonso gave preference to other attacking options.

This drop in prominence comes at a critical juncture in Rodrygo’s career. With the World Cup on the horizon, consistent playing time is vital, and a bench role at the Bernabéu could jeopardise his place in the Brazil squad. Meanwhile, transfer rumours are rife about interest from Premier League heavyweights Arsenal and Liverpool.

Faced with limited minutes amid growing competition in Real Madrid’s forward line, the question looms large: should Rodrygo seek a fresh start elsewhere, or fight for his place in Real Madrid’s starting line-up?

Rodrygo joined Real Madrid in the summer of 2019, the Spanish club having agreed to a €45m deal with Brazilian side Santos a year earlier. At Real Madrid, Rodrygo slowly and steadily made his way into the first team. So far, he has played a total of 270 games for Los Blancos, scoring 68 goals and providing 51 assists. He has achieved great success, having clinched three LaLiga titles, two Champions League trophies, a Club World Cup, and an Intercontinental Cup, among other honours, establishing himself as an integral part of Carlo Ancelotti’s first team.

However, since the high-profile arrival of Kylian Mbappé last summer, Rodrygo has found his playing time reduced considerably. Though he can play anywhere across the front line, he is more effective on the left wing. In the last two seasons, he has been accommodated in the starting XI either on the right wing or as a centre-forward, with opportunities on his favoured left side rarely coming by.

With Real Madrid ending last season without winning LaLiga or the Champions League, the campaign was deemed a failure, and a lot of criticism befell the forward line. Even though he played 54 games for Real Madrid last season, Rodrygo completed the full 90 minutes in only around 15 of them, and just 10 of his appearances came on the left wing — highlighting coach Ancelotti’s preference for Vinícius Júnior and Mbappé. The season before, he made a similar number of appearances (51), but again was utilised more as a centre-forward by Ancelotti, who did not bring in a direct replacement for Karim Benzema following his departure to the Saudi Pro League after the 2022/23 season.

Despite playing in positions other than his preferred one, Rodrygo produced exceptional numbers — 26 goal contributions in 2023/24 and 25 in 2024/25 — showcasing his top-class ability and consistency, which makes Real Madrid’s willingness to sell him rather baffling.

With the arrival of Xabi Alonso, Rodrygo’s playing time looks set to be curtailed even further. In the Club World Cup, he only managed around 90 minutes across three appearances and was left warming the bench for the most part. Rumours are therefore gathering pace that Real Madrid are willing to sell Rodrygo this summer, even though the player appears reluctant to move away from Spain.

Arsenal and Liverpool have been monitoring his situation closely. If Luis Díaz moves away from Anfield this summer, the Reds could be interested in the Brazil international to strengthen their left-wing options. The Gunners are also looking to reinforce their attack with a talented and skilful winger, given Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard have not delivered the number of goals and assists the team require from their attackers.

At either of these clubs, Rodrygo could get regular game time, Champions League football, and potential success in terms of trophies. It is absolutely vital for him to play regularly to secure a place in the Seleção for next year’s World Cup.

In my view, Rodrygo should consider leaving Real Madrid this summer if he’s truly looking to challenge himself in a new environment and league. Change is the only constant in life, and for a player of his talent, stepping into the demanding atmosphere of the Premier League could offer the growth and development he needs at this stage in his career.

While the final decision rests with Rodrygo, it’s important to acknowledge that he currently appears surplus to requirements at Real Madrid. If reports are to be believed, Xabi Alonso does not see him as a central part of his plans, which arguably makes a move away not just beneficial, but necessary.

Ultimately, it will be fascinating to see how the situation unfolds, but it’s quite clear from recent actions and noise that Alonso and Real Madrid are indeed nudging Rodrygo towards the exit door.