Xabi Alonso comments on future of £70m Arsenal transfer target after latest absence

Rodrygo’s future appears to lie away from Real Madrid after boss Xabi Alonso said he didn’t bring him on in their 4-0 loss to PSG because he preferred other players – with Arsenal said to be interested

Real Madrid boss Xabi Alonso has claimed he hasn’t made a decision on the future of Arsenal target Rodrygo – after claiming his decision not to bring him on in their 4-0 loss to PSG was a “technical decision”.

Rodrygo’s future at Madrid looks uncertain after being dropped for all but one of the team’s Club World Cup games in the United States this summer.

He started their opening 1-1 draw against Al-Hilal, grabbing an assist for Gonzalo Garcia’s strike, but since then he has had to settle for two substitute appearances against Red Bull Salzburg and Borussia Dortmund.

In three of Madrid’s games, against Pachuca, Juventus and PSG, Rodrygo was an unused substitute, which has only added to speculation he could depart amid strong links to Arsenal.

When asked about his call to leave Rodrygo on the bench, Alonso said: “These are match decisions. The way the match was going, we needed another profile.

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“There have been no decisions for the future. We haven’t rotated too much in this Club World Cup and the context will be different in the future.”

On the possibility of further signings, having already snapped up centre-back Dean Huijsen from Bournemouth and Trent Alexander-Arnold from Liverpool, he added: “We haven’t talked about it during the Club World Cup, but from now on we’re open to making improvements.”

Earlier this summer, reports claimed that Rodrygo was “angry” over his situation at the Bernabeu and felt pushed aside in favour of team-mates Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham.

It’s said the situation had caused an “explosion” at Madrid after not appearing in the 4-3 loss to Barcelona in May. Arsenal has looked like the most likely destination as Mikel Arteta seeks more firepower to help him win the title.

Rodyrgo has been tipped to leave for a sum of £67million and it has already been established Arsenal have a strong interest in him.

But the huge sum could be off-putting to the Gunners, having already shelled out £60m for Spanish midfielder Martin Zubimendi, while they are attempting to sign Viktor Gyokeres from Sporting Lisbon but are being quoted a total of £80m.

Other Arsenal forward targets include Chelsea’s Noni Madueke, who has already agreed personal terms, and Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze – two deals which might be more feasible than Rodrygo.

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