Real Madrid opens the 2025/26 La Liga season on Tuesday against Osasuna. Funny thing is, Xabi Alonso kind of got his first win before the ball was even kicked. The new coach walked straight into weeks of noise about Rodrygo’s future, with the Brazilian forward constantly tied to Tottenham in the press. His answer in the first press conference wasn’t long or polished. “There are a lot of rumors in the summer, but I saw him looking good, I’m counting on everyone. I want them to be 100% for the team,” he said.
Just a line or two, yet it landed with impact. Alonso managed to shut down the chatter and, at the same time, let the squad know where they stand: no one starts the season with their head somewhere else.
Tottenham hit a wall
Tottenham had drawn up an ambitious plan. The idea was simple: bring Rodrygo in and make him the face of a new project. In London, he’d be handed the keys, no waiting around. But Madrid put up a wall. The club set the bar at €90 million just to even start talking. That number isn’t impossible for a Premier League side, but it makes something clear enough. He’s not a player they’re keen to move.
The thing is, money isn’t really the heart of the issue. What Rodrygo wants are minutes. Consistent minutes. And he hasn’t always had them. His form hasn’t exactly helped either — stretches of games where he looked off, quiet, sometimes lost. If that pattern keeps up, if Alonso can’t give him the playing time he’s looking for, then this whole transfer talk is bound to come back in the next window.
Why Rodrygo matters right now
Rodrygo has been at Real Madrid since 2019. In that time he’s played 270 matches and scored 68 goals. Decent numbers, but they don’t really explain his impact. What makes him stand out is how he shows up when it matters most. Champions League knockouts, big La Liga nights — that’s when he’s delivered. Players like that aren’t easy to find.
He’s also versatile. Left, right, even down the middle, he can adjust and usually brings energy and effort. For Alonso, just getting started as coach, that kind of reliability counts. It gives him some breathing room while he figures out the rest of the team. And honestly, losing Rodrygo now wouldn’t feel like smart business. It would look like Madrid shooting itself in the foot.