Rodrygo's Real Madrid future continues to be hot topic ahead of the 2025/26 season. The Brazilian has been a regular in the Los Blancos team but he has been linked with a big-money move away from the Santiago Bernabeu.
Arsenal are one club to be mentioned in regards to the 24-year-old as they look to upgrade their attack for the new campaign. With the side from north London in the hunt for a new striker, Mikel Arteta could very well line up with a devastating front three if Andrea Berta can work his magic in the transfer market.
Already possessing Bukayo Saka on the right flank, it could be one of Benjamin Sesko or Viktor Gyokeres who leads the line with a new winger to the left of them. Gabriel Martinelli is Arsenal's current option on the left-wing but he has been linked with a summer move to Bayern Munich.
The Gunners really require someone the same level as Saka to play from the left as Martinelli and Arsenal's other wingers on that side of the pitch have struggled for consistency. In terms of Rodrygo, he plays on the right-wing for Real Madrid with Vinicius Junior operating from the left.
The majority of Rodrygo's appearances in his young career have come from the right but he in fact prefers to play on the left. Speaking to CBS Sports earlier in the year, Jude Bellingham outlined Rodrygo's wish to start in his preferred role.
"Rodrygo, so underrated," admitted his Real Madrid teammate. "For me, he’s probably the most talented and most gifted player in the squad, I think the things he can do with a football. We'll be messing around, and he'll flick the ball up somehow, and we'll think, 'how do you do that?'
"It's a pleasure to play with them, you put them in positions where they affect the games, and they can win it for you. I think Rodrygo, another thing to mention, is that he is the one who sacrifices the most, it's clear that his favourite position is the left.
"I think it's important to note that he does a lot for the team as well, defensively on the right side, it's not his favourite, but he gets on with it, and that's the way we have to continue."
ESPN reported in May that Rodrygo no longer wants to play out of position at Real Madrid, with the player preferring to start on the left-hand side of the attack where he believes he performs best. Given Vinicius' vital role in the Real Madrid team, his Brazilian teammate's situation is unlikely to change under new head coach Xabi Alonso.
Amid the talk of a summer move to Arsenal, Arteta can grant Rodrygo's wish and allow him to play on the left-wing on a consistent basis. That is regardless of whether Martinelli stays at the club or not this summer.
A transfer to Arsenal would in turn see Arteta have a formidable front three leading his line in Rodrygo, Saka and a new striker. It may take a bid in excess of £70million to convince Real Madrid to part with their attacker, though.
That could be money well spent and potentially a deciding factor in the title race as they battle with Liverpool and Manchester City for England's top prize.