Arsenal have halted all contact with Real Madrid star Rodrygo despite growing uncertainty over his future in the Spanish capital.
Rodrygo’s future at Los Blancos came under real doubt towards the end of the 2024-25 campaign but the arrival of Xabi Alonso appeared to repair the damage.
Alonso, named Carlo Ancelotti’s replacement last month, insisted Rodrigo remains part of his plans but his diminishing role in Real’s Club World Cup campaign has done little to ease speculation over his future.
Mikel Arteta is a huge admirer of the Brazil international with Arsenal exploring a move to bring him to the Emirates with Real valuing him at €80million (£67m).
But Cadena Ser report Arsenal have, for now at least, halted all contact with the player.
Get personalised updates on Arsenal everyday
Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro’s Football Newsletter.
Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link we’ll send you so we can get football news tailored to you.
Rodrygo’s representatives contacted a number of Premier League sides in May to determine whether they would be interested in pursuing a move.
Arsenal has been regarded as his most likely destination should he leave Madrid but they too have suspended contact. The report states Arsenal want to see if Alonso continues to overlook him with hope it will drive down his asking price.
Any move is unlikely to take place until towards the end of the summer transfer window, which closes on 1 September.
Arsenal’s immediate focus would appear to be on signing a striker while the club are also in talks with Crystal Palace over Eberechi Eze.
Rodrygo started Real Madrid’s first match of the Club World Cup, providing the assist in the 1-1 draw with Al Hilal.
But the 24-year-old has been an unused substitute in two of his side’s last three games, also reduced to a bench role against RB Salsburg where he managed just 23 minutes of action.
Alonso has switched to a 3-5-2 formation in Real’s last two matches with 21-year-old Gonzalo Garcia starting up front alongside Vinicius Jr.
With Rodrygo missing out and Kylian Mbappe recovering from illness, Garcia appears to be the biggest beneficiary of the new system, repaying his manager’s faith with two goals in his last two matches.
After Rodrygo was dropped from the starting XI for Real’s second group match against Pachuca, Alonso explained it was a ‘technical decision’ to bench him.
While he suggested the winger could still have an ‘important part’ to play in the competition, he remained on the bench for the last 16 clash against Juventus on Tuesday.
‘He looks good, enthusiastic,’ Alonso said. ‘The other day [against Pachuca] was a technical decision but he’s still important, he’s a special player. I think he’ll play an important part at the Club World Cup.’