Rodrygo Goes is no longer indispensable. What seemed unthinkable just a few months ago is now almost a certainty. Xabi Alonso, after the tough defeat against PSG, made it clear that Rodrygo is no longer a key player in the team.
"These are match decisions," said the coach, but the facts go beyond words. Rodrygo started in the first match of the tournament and has disappeared since then. Just 27 minutes in the next five, in a club like Real Madrid, that amounts to a sentence.
Gonzalo García and the change of hierarchy
The rise of young Gonzalo García has sped up the process, the homegrown player has taken advantage of every opportunity. He has energy, boldness, and is in tune with Xabi's playing style. His growth has been so fast that Rodrygo has been left without space.
Moreover, Xabi Alonso's system prioritizes different profiles in attack, more vertical, more direct. Rodrygo, more associative and technical, doesn't fit in the same way and he has noticed it. Quietly, without controversy, but with visible frustration, Vinícius, his friend and compatriot, has already understood it, Rodrygo isn't staying.
The market moves: Premier in sight
The top clubs in England are paying attention, clubs like Liverpool, Arsenal, and Chelsea are closely following the Brazilian. They know his situation is delicate. They know Madrid won't keep him if he decides to leave.
Fabrizio Romano has already reported it: the decision will be Rodrygo's. The white club is willing to negotiate if he takes the step.
The Premier League is attractive for many reasons: competitiveness, visibility, and significant salaries. Above all, minutes. In London or Manchester, Rodrygo would have more prominence than what awaits him in the white jersey.
A cycle that comes to an end
Rodrygo has experienced magical moments at Real Madrid. Decisive goals in the Champions League, historic comebacks, applause at Bernabéu, but cycles end. His seems to have reached its limit.
The arrival of new stars and the focus on homegrown talent have pushed him aside, it's not a matter of quality, but of project. He, at just 24 years old, wants more. More playing time, more importance, more continuity.
His departure won't be a failure, but a transition, Madrid will earn money. He will gain minutes. Soccer, if everything goes well, will gain a new star in the Premier League.