Rodrygo finds himself in an uneasy position one in which Real Madrid does not seem keen on letting him out of. The window in FIFA for the transfer remains open until June 10 for the Club World Cup, yet the Brazilian striker remains in anticipation of an open dialogue with new Merengue head coach Xabi Alonso as to if he will remain or if he will be moving on.
Meanwhile, waiting in the wings and poised to pounce are Arsenal, Chelsea, and Manchester City. If Real does not make a declaration of its intent in the not-too-distant future, though, it will stand to lose a valuable and developing asset and might not even realize just how big the loss will be.
Rodrygo finds himself interested in learning Xabi's proposal, European media say. He's eager to know if he's going to be an important cog or one of many in a team with so many strikers.
Arsenal already has a plan
Of the English sides, the one to make the greatest movement was Arsenal. Mikel Arteta considers Rodrygo a mature and polyvalent piece who can play in many positions on the front line without a drop in intensity. He desires a plethora of top-level options with whom to get through a long and demanding campaign with titles to win. And he identifies in the Brazilian a rare mixture of talent, tactical sense and desire to play.
That brings things into perspective. To be a priority to a Premier League title-bidder is a big deal. Particularly when the current team seems more interested in providing a haven to superstars.
Real Madrid at risk of repeating historical error
Recent history has demonstrated how Madrid tends to downplay players who don't make a fuss. Rodrygo never moaned about his position, being substituted or the opponents. He was a professional from day one to the last. He played 51 times in the team and another six with the national team. He scored 15 and had nine assists. He played when the team needed him. And after all this, he's waiting for an “okay” with his future in the team.
It's a stiff competition
It's evident that the attacking group of Real Madrid has been congested. Mbappé comes as a star. Vinícius is a guaranteed starter. Endrick is regarded as a future sure thing. Rodrygo, although he features and contributes toward winning the game, sits on the sidelines. The position feels awkward. Particularly for a player who has already demonstrated the ability to play either flank of the attack and yet be a play-builder in the possession.
Rodrygo is 24 with a track record in his country, goals in decisive Champions League qualifiers and positional flexibility. There aren't many of those floating around. Adds to this he's also apparently at a career juncture. Being a star for a club desperate for him as an out-and-out first teamer or being a non-entity in the middle of a squad overload. There's room to develop at Arsenal. There's enough there to be a champion but lacks players like this. Rodrygo can play and assist there. More challenging for him at Chelsea but with room as well. More competitive at City but Guardiola also knows how to play with multi-talented players and Rodrygo fits into this group.