Following reports that Rodrygo’s camp were upset by his lack of minutes against Pachuca, Xabi Alonso once again left the winger on the bench on Tuesday night against Juventus.
MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA: Rodrygo of Real Madrid C.F. controls the ball during the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 group H match between Real Madrid CF and Al Hilal at Hard Rock Stadium on June 18, 2025. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images)
Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images
Ahead of Real Madrid’s match against Juventus on Tuesday, Guillermo Rai reported for The Athletic that sources close to Rodrygo had been upset by Xabi Alonso’s decision to leave the Brazilian on the bench for the full 90 minutes of their Club World Cup group game against Pachuca.
Arsenal target Rodrygo was benched again for the final group game against RB Salzburg, but he did at least come on for 23 minutes of that match.
But it was back to the drawing board on Tuesday, with Alonso naming Rodrygo on the bench for the third game in a row, and failing to bring him on against Juventus.
MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA: Rodrygo of Real Madrid C.F. enters the pitch prior to the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 group H match between Real Madrid CF and Al Hilal at Hard Rock Stadium on June 18, 2025. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images)
Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images
Even before the last-16 match, Rai wrote in his piece for The Athletic that Rodrygo appeared to have the biggest question mark over his future, of all Real Madrid’s key players. That won’t have changed after another absence in the knockout stages.
Defensa Central report that the reality is that Alonso doesn’t see Rodrygo as a starter.
There won’t be any transfer exits during the Club World Cup, and things could change before the conclusion of the tournament. But we’re at the quarter-final stage now, so there isn’t much time left.
MADRID, SPAIN: Rodrygo of Real Madrid CF waves the fan prior to the LaLiga match between Real Madrid CF and Athletic Club at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on April 20, 2025. (Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images)
Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images
Arsenal have been heavily linked with Rodrygo this summer, but Alonso initially hinted that the 24-year-old was an important player he didn’t want to lose.
With the manager’s actions appearing to suggest otherwise, and Rodrygo needing minutes this season ahead of the World Cup in 2026, the Gunners could have an opening to make a move very soon.
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