Amid rumors about his departure from Real Madrid, Rodrygo got minutes again in the match against Salzburg. The Brazilian came on in the final stretch of the game, leaving few significant actions when everything was already firmly under control. The result ended with a 0-3 win for Xabi Alonso's side, who secured their place in the next round of the Club World Cup as group leaders.
Xabi Alonso spoke with Rodrygo Goes
Once the match was over, Xabi Alonso wanted to clear up any misunderstandings that might exist regarding the speculation about Rodrygo's future.
"Defensa Central" has discovered that the man from Tolosa personally sought out Rodrygo to give him a clear message. "Don't think I let myself be influenced by what people say from the outside," Xabi Alonso privately warned him.
With this message, the Basque coach wanted to personally reassure his forward, making him see that he can be important if he works well. Xabi Alonso would like Rodrygo Goes to end up staying at Real Madrid, trusting 100% in his abilities and believing that he will bring him a lot of joy.
This gesture hasn't gone unnoticed by the forward, whose main goal remains to continue at Santiago Bernabéu. He needs to do a mental reset that seems to be on its way. If he returns to his previous level, nobody doubts that he will be important during Madrid's season.
Rodrygo, sea of doubts
Rodrygo isn't going through his best moment at Real Madrid. At 24 years old, the Brazilian forward has experienced an inconsistent last season, in which he ended up losing prominence in the starting eleven. Despite playing 52 official matches, his numbers haven't been enough to establish himself as an undisputed piece in the white team's line-up.
What seemed to be the year of his definitive breakthrough has turned into a season full of doubts. With the emergence of young talents and the arrival of new stars, Rodrygo has been pushed into the background. In many stretches of the campaign, he was more of a game-changer off the bench than a guarantee in the starting line-up. The fierce competition, combined with the high demands, has caused his development to stall compared to the promise he showed in his first seasons.
Despite this, Xabi Alonso believes he can bring out the best version of Rodrygo. He needs time and is willing to give it to him while rumors place him far from Real Madrid.