The Brazil attacker risks being on the outside looking as Los Blancos prepare to revamp their forward line this summer
On March 31, the Santiago Bernabeu crowd prepared to welcome Jude Bellingham back to his still relatively new home. The England midfielder, and La Liga’s top scorer, had spent almost a month away from the stadium, a suspension and the international break enforcing his absence.
And while Bellingham broke out his usual bag of tricks against Athletic Club – deft turns, driving runs, angled passes – it was another another Madridista who brought the crowd to their feet. Rodrygo played the role of match-winner in the 2-0 victory, scoring both goals as Los Blancos restored their eight-point lead at the top of La Liga.
It was a performance that reaffirmed Rodrygo’s value to Madrid while highlighting the world-class qualities he possess. But for all of Rodrygo’s undeniable footballing talent, there is a nagging sense that these might be the final days of his career in Madrid white.
The presumed arrival of Kylian Mbappe this summer will lead to change in the Spanish capital, leaving Rodrygo, still 23 and on the verge of superstardom, with an uphill battle to be a regular starter. It might, then, be time for the Brazilian to consider his future at the Bernabeu.
Season so far
Heading into that Athletic clash, Rodrygo’s season seemed to be taking something of a downturn. Despite a number of exciting moments earlier in the campaign, the Brazilian hadn’t found the net in 465 minutes of football, going scoreless for seven games despite putting nine shots on target over that spell.
Regardless of that barren spell, a look at the numbers suggests that Rodrygo is having his best season yet in the Spanish capital. He has scored 15 goals and assisted in eight all competitions, putting him comfortably on pace to surpass his totals of 18 and 11, respectively, from last season. His goals per 90 minutes are also up over last year, despite manager Carlo Ancelotti entrusting him with more time on the pitch.
He hasn’t been perfect, as illustrated by his recent goal drought, and he can still go missing for long periods, especially when stuck out on the right-wing. But Ancelotti has asserted his faith in his mercurial forward.
“There are very isolated cases of strikers who always score. Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema… With experience, Rodrygo is going to improve in this aspect,” the Italian coach said after Sunday’s game.
Mixed Madrid career
Consistency is the key to Rodrygo taking the next step. His Madrid career so far has been a story of hot periods in terms of goals and assists mixed in with less prolific runs.
His lack of time certainly hasn’t helped. Last season, Ancelotti never quite made Rodrygo a regular as Federico Valverde, a natural midfielder, occupied some of Rodrygo’s minutes on the right of the forward line, while the presence of Benzema made it difficult for the Brazilian to get a look through the middle. He still made 25 league starts, but never enjoyed an extended spell in the side.
Things were further complicated by public tension with Ancelotti, as Rodrygo told GOAL in 2023 that he felt he was being misused by his manager: “With the 4-2-3-1, behind [Benzema] is the position that I like the most and everyone knows this. I always talk about it with the coach. Of course, I can play in all positions, but that’s where it’s where I feel more comfortable when it comes to playing.”
The 4-2-3-1 is a system that Ancelotti seldom uses, with the Italian generally preferring his team to play in a 4-3-3, though he has switched to a 4-4-2 diamond in 2023 to get the best out of Bellingham while not having a direct replacement for the departed Benzema. Rodrygo’s frustrations boiled over in January 2023, when the forward ignored Ancelotti after being substituted in a 3-2 win over Villarreal in the Copa del Rey.
When he has been on the pitch, Rodrygo has lived his Madrid career in big moments. Game-changing actions in the Champions League – where he averages a goal or assist every 89 minutes – and Club World Cup final alone have proven his worth to the side. Still, until this season, it felt like he hadn’t fully hit his stride.
Tactical conundrum
There remains a nagging sense that Rodrygo has never quite found his best position in a Madrid shirt. His insistence that he is not a central striker has been backed up by his lack of goals when deployed in that area (he has scored more from the right-wing), though Ancelotti’s move to utlisie him as one of two split strikers has gotten Rodrygo involved in play more.
The Brazilian is now often found cutting into his favoured central areas where he can combine with Vinicius Jr and Bellingham. Still, a look at his recent performances in a Brazil shirt – where he was allowed to drop into more of a false nine role – are more indicative of what Rodrygo at his best can look like. For the Selecao, he is allowed to receive the ball between the midfield and defensive lines, link play and drive at the defence.
That position, currently occupied by Bellingham in the Madrid team, will simply never be available as long as the England international is in Spain.
Mbappe’s arrival
The window of opportunity for Rodrygo to make an impact appears to be shrinking even more. Mbappe has been linked with a move to Madrid for years, and, admittedly not for the first time, there is pretty compelling evidence to suggest that it will happen imminently.
Depending on which version of the story you believe, Mbappe may have already agreed a deal with Los Blancos. Rodrygo himself all-but confirmed it earlier this week, saying after the Athletic Club win: “I don’t know about Mbappe yet. I think it’s close because everyone says it.”
Though the player is willing and there will be no transfer fee to pay, Mbappe’s arrival at Madrid will still not be straightforward. It will represent an immense financial commitment from Los Blancos, and also come with certain demands from the player. Mbappe will not run the club, but he will expect to be granted some tactical freedom, meaning there is no doubt that he will be the team’s starting No.9.
Too many top-class attackers
That leads to something of a tactical headache for Ancelotti. Madrid are in a fine rhythm with their 4-4-2 diamond formation, as Rodrygo and Vinicius have formed a fine duo through the middle, while Bellingham looks every bit a Ballon d’Or contender dropping in between the two of them.
Mbappe’s arrival, though, will require some sort of reinterpretation from Ancelotti. If he wishes to stick with the current system – and get the most out of Bellingham – he can simply use Vinicius and Mbappe as split strikers.
A reversion back to a 4-3-3 is also possible, but even then Rodrygo doesn’t have his starting spot guaranteed, with Valverde likely to make a claim for the position on the right – especially if Ancelotti wants to shore up his midfield with extra legs.
Once that is figured out, Endrick needs to be factored into the equation, too. The Palmeiras teenager is set to arrive in Madrid in the summer, and can play anywhere across the front line. A starting berth from day one seems unlikely, but should he impress in pre-season – and continue to show the kind of quality he has in his first few Brazil caps – he will surely be given every opportunity to crack the first team. Rodrygo could quite easily become the odd man out.
Options elsewhere
There is a chance of escape, though. Rodrygo’s name has floated around in transfer rumours consistently in the past two years, with a host of clubs reportedly interested in securing his services. Paris Saint-Germain, Arsenal, and, most recently, Liverpool have all been linked with the Selecao star.
A deal would be admittedly tricky to figure out, as Rodrygo is on big wages, and Madrid have no reason to entertain anything less than an astronomical offer for a player who has shown, in flashes, that he can be among the world’s best.
Rodrygo, for his part, has insisted that he isn’t looking to leave. He described having Mbappe in Madrid as a “good problem”, and admitted that he would embrace the opportunity to play alongside him. He also told GOAL last year that he wouldn’t consider playing for another club – regardless of the offer. This is not a forward immediately looking for a way out – at least not yet.
Time to move on?
That time might come soon, however. The reality is the arrival of Mbappe will surely force Rodrygo, a player already too good to be missing games, further out of the picture.
Ancelotti has consistently reaffirmed his faith in the forward, and backed him to continue to be an important player at the Santiago Bernabeu. Still, if he doesn’t have the opportunities to prove how good he can be – in his best position – the Brazilian doesn’t necessarily owe anything to his current employers.
Competition for places can be a good thing, especially for top clubs that are fighting to win numerous competitions. Rodrygo, though, is perhaps above the slugfest for minutes in the pressure-cooker of Madrid.
It will not be an easy thing to leave, and wherever he goes, he will almost certainly not win the same number of trophies. Still, it might just be the best outcome for a player who has so much more to give.
Goal.com
