Rodrygo has decided he will not allow this season to slip away quietly.
Despite his limited minutes under Xabi Alonso, the Brazilian forward has made it clear that he remains fully committed to Real Madrid and is ready to fight until the very end to earn the manager’s trust.
He feels that he can convince Alonso the same way he convinced Carlo Ancelotti with the Brazilian national team.
Lack of prominence
The numbers show why questions have been raised. Alonso has overseen a total of 23 matches so far this season, including one friendly. Yet Rodrygo has only been on the pitch for 25% of the available minutes.
At a club where attackers are expected to contribute regularly, being restricted to a quarter of the season’s action highlights just how marginal his role has become.
Starts have been even harder to come by. Rodrygo has been named in the starting XI just four times. Even then, he did not complete a single match.
Rodrygo, Real Madrid player
Rodrygo is committed to Real Madrid. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
For a player who has delivered big moments for Real Madrid in the past, this pattern has naturally sparked debates over Alonso’s confidence in him.
Total commitment to Real Madrid
Rodrygo has now addressed the matter openly. Speaking about his relationship with Alonso, he said**,**
“There’s not much I can do (about not having the same chances at Real Madrid as I have with the national team).
“I have to keep working, dedicating myself and trying to earn the confidence of the coach there (Xabi Alonso), just like I have with the coach here (Ancelotti).
“I think that’s only possible during training, to keep improving, he (Xabi Alonso) sees my dedication, and maybe I’ll get more chances,” he told ESPN Brasil.
There is no doubt Rodrygo wants to succeed at Real Madrid. He has never hidden his attachment to the club, and he has no intentions of giving up on his place in the squad.
However, he is also aware that if his role remains secondary for the rest of the campaign, he will request a meeting with the club at the end of the season to discuss his future.