With the signing of Argentine wonderkid Franco Mastantuono, Real Madrid seems to be kicking off a new era under new head coach Xabi Alonso. The Spanish giants paid nearly $51 million (45 million euros) to land the River Plate gem, who will officially join the squad in August. His potential to break into the starting eleven — alongside stars like Vinícius Jr. and Kylian Mbappé — has cast serious doubts over the future of Rodrygo, who is reportedly considering a move away.

Rodrygo walking a tightrope with Premier League clubs on alert

Although Alonso included him in preseason plans and Rodrygo himself expressed excitement on social media about reconnecting with the new coaching staff, the increased competition has forced him to rethink his role. According to The Athletic, Real Madrid is open to offers around €100 million (roughly $110 million), even though the Brazilian’s release clause is set at a staggering €1 billion.

Clubs like Arsenal, Chelsea, and Manchester City have already shown interest in the 24-year-old winger. Mikel Arteta sees him as a perfect fit to strengthen the Gunners’ front line, which only scored 69 goals last season — a significant drop from the 91 they netted the year before. As journalist Jim Sheridan reported, Arsenal is “desperate to boost their attacking options” and currently lead the race.

Solid stats, shrinking influence

Rodrygo is coming off a solid campaign, registering 15 goals and 9 assists in 51 appearances, but saw his influence wane under Carlo Ancelotti. Now, with Mastantuono — who also plays on the right wing — joining the fold, and young talents like Arda Güler pushing through, the space for Rodrygo to shine is becoming increasingly limited.