Real Madrid head coach Xabi Alonso says there isn’t much to read into his decision to have Brazil forward Rodrygo Goes not feature in the club’s opening game of the 2025-2026 Spanish La Liga season.
Alonso’s tenure as Real Madrid head coach got off to a winning start as Real beat Osasuna 1-0 thanks to a second half goal from Kylian Mbappe from the penalty spot.
However, Rodrygo didn’t feature in the game as he rode the bench sparking renewed speculation regarding the Brazilian’s future at the club. The 24 year old has been linked to English Premier League clubs like Chelsea and Arsenal.
At the FIFA Club World Cup, Rodrygo was hardly used in Madrid’s run to the quarterfinals and leaving him out of the Osasuna game completely has stirred up transfer conversations about Rodrygo but Alonso dismissed such thoughts stating,
“It was only a match. If in three months he still isn’t getting these minutes, then it’s different. Nothing’s going on. The Club World Cup was a different context because of the competition that it was. I think we can leave the Club World Cup behind us and what really counts is this season. It’s just one game, we don’t have to read too much in the future.”
Real Madrid take on Real Oviedo on Sunday, August 24 at 19:30 GMT.
