AFC

Real Madrid Clarifies Rodrygo Situation as Arsenal Contemplates Signing

Real Madrid and new manager Xabi Alonso have made it clear that Rodrygo is not for sale this summer. Alonso explicitly stated: “Rodrygo is a Real Madrid player … a spectacular player, we will need him,” affirming the club’s intention to integrate him into their plans rather than move him on  .

Further reinforcing that stance, after a recent match Rodrygo missed, Alonso dismissed any speculation: “Nothing is going on. … What counts is this season and of course I’m counting on Rodrygo.” His absence was purely tactical, not a signal of his future  .

Rodrygo himself remains committed to Real Madrid, looking to impress under Alonso’s leadership, particularly after limited minutes during the Club World Cup. With a contract secured until 2028, he is motivated to cement his place in the squad  .

Arsenal’s Hopefulness Tempered by Realities

Meanwhile, Arsenal continues to explore the possibility of reinforcing their wing options with Rodrygo, but faces several obstacles:

A swap deal proposal surfaced: Real Madrid allegedly offered Rodrygo in exchange for Arsenal’s centre-back William Saliba. The idea was immediately dismissed by Arsenal — Saliba is considered irreplaceable and central to their future plans  . The signings of Noni Madueke and Viktor Gyökeres by Arsenal have cooled interest in Rodrygo, making his arrival increasingly unlikely, especially given his high price tag of around €90 million — far from feasible for many Premier League clubs  . As of early August, still no concrete offers have been received by Real Madrid. Uncertainty around Rodrygo’s future appears driven more by the lack of a suitable proposal than any firm decision to keep him  .

Summary: Clash of Intentions

Party

Position on Rodrygo

Real Madrid / Xabi Alonso

Fully intend to keep him and integrate him into the team.

Rodrygo

Focused on staying, earning minutes, and proving his worth under Alonso.

Arsenal

Interested—but hamstrung by financial constraints, recent signings, and Real Madrid’s stance.

Final Thoughts

For now, Rodrygo remains a Real Madrid player, with no imminent move on the cards. While Arsenal’s interest is genuine, logistical complications and a rigid valuation have stalled progress. The coming weeks leading up to the close of the transfer window will likely determine whether any breakthrough is possible—or whether this link remains little more than speculative chatter.

Would you like to explore how Rodrygo could fit into Arsenal’s system, or look at alternative transfer targets they might pursue?