Speculation surrounding Rodrygo's situation and future has intensified over the past 53 days, with doubts raised about his absences and transfer rumors linking him to the Premier League—Arsenal among the clubs closely monitoring the winger. New manager Xabi Alonso appeared to bring some clarity this week, yet Rodrygo remained absent from Real Madrid's 3–1 victory over Pachuca on Sunday.
Following Madrid's 2–3 loss to Barcelona in the Copa del Rey final, Spanish outlet Marca reported that Rodrygo had told Carlo Ancelotti's coaching staff before the match he felt "physically uncomfortable and in no mood to play." Multiple sources close to the club alleged that the Brazilian has shown a lack of motivation in training sessions, claims vehemently denied by his entourage. These concerns reportedly led to an agreement between Ancelotti and Rodrygo that the winger would not be called up to Brazil's first World Cup qualifying squad for matches against Ecuador and Paraguay.
After the Copa del Rey final, Rodrygo missed Madrid's subsequent La Liga fixture against Celta, with both the club and his team citing a fever as the cause. A week later, during Madrid's crucial away trip to Barcelona in their last-ditch effort to defend the La Liga title, Rodrygo traveled to Catalonia but remained unused. Notably, Madrid reserve winger Víctor Muñoz made his senior debut in the 88th minute—a rare move from Ancelotti, who is not known for giving extensive opportunities to academy players during his Madrid tenure.
When asked about Rodrygo's condition and the dressing-room atmosphere, a teammate stated: "I don't know; he's a player who doesn't open up much about his feelings." After Madrid's 3–4 El Clásico defeat, Rodrygo resumed training with the squad a day before the midweek match against Mallorca but left the 15-minute media-open session early for the locker room, with officials citing physical issues. He missed that match and Madrid's final two La Liga fixtures, though the club did not release a medical report—unusual, as they typically do so for injuries, having issued two for Rodrygo in October and November.
Key Details & Context:
Transfer Speculation: Arsenal's interest in Rodrygo aligns with their reported £80m budget for attacking reinforcements, though Madrid's asking price is rumored to exceed £100m.
Training Concerns: Sources claim Rodrygo has arrived late to multiple sessions and skipped tactical drills since March, a contrast to his usual work ethic.
Medical Discrepancy: Madrid's lack of a public report for his recent absences has fueled speculation, especially as the club released detailed updates for his hamstring injuries in 2024.
Managerial Shift: Xabi Alonso, who replaced Ancelotti in June, is said to have held private meetings with Rodrygo to address discipline, though the player's camp insists "personal issues" unrelated to football are the root cause.
