Premier League target Rodrygo handed Real Madrid lifeline after ‘worst goal drought in club’s history’

Rodrygo’s Real Madrid future could be boosted by a decision over Vinicius Junior, as both stars face speculation over their next move.

Los Blancos star Rodrygo has struggled for playing time under Xabi Alonso this season, and is currently enduring the worst goal drought of any forward in the club’s 123-year history.

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Having played a key role in two European triumphs in the years since his arrival in 2019, the Brazilian has found himself out of sorts more recently.

He has predominantly featured from the bench this term following Alonso’s arrival as manager, and is yet to score at all.

In fact, Rodrygo’s struggles in front of goal go back even further than this season, with his failure to find the net in Madrid’s last match against Girona taking his goal drought to 30 straight games.

This saw him make unwanted history, as he equalled the previous worst goalscoring run by a forward in the famous white shirt.

Between 2020 and 2022, bit-part player Mariano Diaz also brought up the same number of games without finding the net.

For Rodrygo, this represents a major change in fortunes, having scored 68 goals in 285 games in a stellar Real Madrid career until now.

What has been said about Rodrygo’s future?

Rodrygo has faced speculation surrounding his future at the Santiago Bernabeu since the latter end of last season.

In May, talkSPORT revealed that Arsenal were genuine contenders to sign the 24-year-old, who was thought to be unsettled.

While he ultimately stayed put, he has continued to play second-fiddle to Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr this term, and it has since been reported in Spanish media that he could be put up for sale in the coming transfer windows.

But Rodrygo isn’t the only forward who could be on the move, with Vinicius’ contract expiring in 2027, and question marks emerging over his future.

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In November, talkSPORT reported that the 2024 Ballon d’Or runner up is reluctant to extend his stay at the Bernabeu amid a perceived breakdown in relationship with manager Alonso.

Vincius has been left out of the starting XI four times, and reacted angrily to being substituted in October’s El Clasico.

And according to European football expert Andy Brassell, any decision over Rodrygo’s future could be impacted directly by his fellow star’s next move.

Rodrygo decision rests on Vinicius

Discussing Rodrygo’s prospects in the Spanish capital, Brassell said: “If you were looking to generate funds, he might be one of the guys you think of because he’s someone with a big market value who is proven at the absolute top level, but just doesn’t really fit at the moment. 

“And there’s so much competition around him, and it’s difficult to see that changing. But is he at the real peak of his value?

“Of course, they were asking around €90million for him now. Who’s paying that at the moment when he’s quite plainly out of nick?”

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On Rodrygo, he continued: “To me, if you’re looking at him staying at Real Madrid, if there’s a point where Real Madrid decide they’re past Vinicius Junior, if they’re moving past him, they would keep Rodrygo.

“So, Rodrygo, it feels as if the situation in which he would make most sense, is if they decided they were going to cash in on Vinicius.”

Recent reports from ESPN claim that negotiations over a new contract for Vinicius have stalled, and there is now a scenario where talks do not resume until after the 2026 World Cup.

Addressing this update, Brassell said: “Now obviously, Vinicius, as mentioned on the Trans Euro Express last night, has set himself a little bit against Xabi Alonso at the moment. 

“And he’s allowed it to be leaked that: ‘I don’t think it’s wise for me to sign a new contract while my relationship with the coaches is like this’. 

“Which is funny because that comes from the last time that they discussed the contract – which is pre Clasico where he had that strop when he got taken off.

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“So, yes, it’s very, very strange. I don’t really know what sort of leverage that Vinicius has because the thing is, it’s fine for him to say that.

“Him and Real Madrid are absolutely miles apart in terms of what he would like to earn and what they would like to pay him from the new contract.”

‘They will sell one of him and Rodrygo’

Returning to the question of Rodrygo’s future, Brassell admitted that while Vinicius is a key chess piece, so too is manager Alonso – who is just six months into his reign at the club

He summarised: “It’s interesting to see what happens with Vinicius.

“I tend to think they will sell one of him and Rodrygo, but I guess they’ve got to work out when maximum value is and whether they’re going to stick with Xabi Alonso for the medium term, because culturally, I’m not sure if Alonso at Real Madrid really works because he’s not really a superstar indulger, is he?

“So, whether it can work, I think, is a viable question. 

“But I think whatever happens with Rodrygo, it’s clear that they need to get him into better form, better state of mind and play him more regularly because he’s an asset. 

“And whether they’re going to keep him or whether they’re going to sell him – if they’re going to sell him, they need him to be worth more than he is at the moment.”