Real Madrid Unmoved by Interest in Forward Amid €90m Valuation | OneFootball

Rodrygo’s Crossroads: Madrid’s Silent Gamble or Long-Term Commitment?

Brazilian Forward Eyes Redemption

Rodrygo will return to Valdebebas today, almost two months after his last visit, and his intention is to continue doing so throughout the 2025-26 season. In other words, to stay at Real Madrid.

It is a declaration of intent not forged in headlines but earned in resolve. After a grueling Club World Cup campaign that left him sidelined and subdued, Rodrygo is committed to reversing his current situation. He aims to win over Xabi and regain his former strength in the team, and his clarity is born not out of desperation but determination.

Real Madrid’s stance has remained consistent. Real Madrid has never shown him the exit door or conveyed that it is determined to sell him, and there are no external pressures driving a potential departure. According to reporting by AS.com, there is only one realistic path that leads Rodrygo away from Madrid – a transfer with a firm offer for the striker of €90 million.

No Panic in Madrid’s Camp

The Madrid hierarchy holds a strong hand. There are no bargaining chips for Rodrygo. The club is resolute, almost aloof, aware of his pedigree and potential. At 24, with two Champions League titles, three La Liga titles, and a place in the Brazil national team, Rodrygo is no fading force. The club knows it.

Photo IMAGO

If someone wants their starting 11, they will have to come with a financial offer of that magnitude.

This is no open auction. Tottenham have shown interest, the most recent being Tottenham, but no firm bids have landed on Florentino Pérez’s desk. Madrid, pragmatic as ever, await only tangible proposals. Without one, the player stays. And there is no strategic risk. He still has three more years on his contract, and there’s no danger of a zero-cost departure in the short term, removing any leverage suitors may seek in negotiations.

Preseason Signals and Tactical Testing

What happens next depends on Xabi Alonso’s vision and Rodrygo’s resilience. Madrid’s mini preseason begins now, followed by a friendly in Innsbruck on August 12, and then La Liga duty resumes August 19 against Osasuna and five days later, a visit to Oviedo.

Whether Rodry’s goal of winning over Xabi begins to bear fruit or whether his difficult role at the Club World Cup becomes more acute is yet to be seen. During the Club World Cup, Xabi was warm during training, even consoling the Brazilian during early sessions. But as the games unfolded, Rodrygo vanished from key moments.

Photo: IMAGO

He only played 92 minutes in total in three of the team’s six matches during the tournament. In the semi-finals against PSG, he scored zero…

A Changed System and New Rivals

The challenge now is as much tactical as it is mental. Xabi Alonso’s Madrid is evolving, and so are the dynamics in attack. Xabi tested a formula with two forwards (Vinicius and Mbappé) in the US instead of Ancelotti’s usual trident, a notable shift that leaves Rodrygo competing for fewer spaces.

He’ll have to fight with Brahim and the new arrival Mastantuono, a precocious talent who has Xabi dazzled.

Rodrygo knows the club well. He knows the standard and the scrutiny. And now, he starts preseason with the mentality that it will be a long campaign. There’s confidence in his tone, self-belief in his actions. He believes that if, as it seems, he ultimately stays, he’ll be back to his old self.

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There’s no denying Rodrygo’s achievements. Two Champions League medals and three La Liga titles by 24 would make him indispensable at most clubs. But something about this situation feels a little too polished, too PR-managed. Yes, “Rodry is committed to reversing his current situation”, but isn’t that what every sidelined player says in July?

His lack of involvement in key Club World Cup games raises alarms. “He only played 92 minutes” and registered nothing in the semi-final. For a player considered part of the starting eleven, that’s not just underwhelming, it’s worrying.

Madrid fans have seen talents like Isco and Asensio go from core players to rotation options in a blink. Mastantuono has caught Xabi’s eye, and Brahim is no pushover either. With Vinicius and Mbappé set as the focal points, does Rodrygo fit this new system? “Xabi tested a formula with two forwards”, and unless there’s a tactical shift, Rodrygo is playing catch-up.

While it’s comforting that “there’s no danger of a zero-cost departure in the short term”, that’s no guarantee of value retention. If Rodrygo fails to break through this season, that €90 million valuation might shrink fast. Madrid needs to decide if this is the time to cash in or double down.