Micah Richards says he ‘really believes’ Rodrygo could be on his way out of Real Madrid and the forward would be a ‘good fit’ for Mikel Arteta’s system at Arsenal.
The Gunners are on the hunt for attacking reinforcements after going another season without winning any silverware under Arteta and a potential deal for Real Madrid’s Rodrygo has been brought to the club’s attention.
Rodrygo fell down the pecking order in Carlo Ancelotti’s plans towards the end of last term, prompting the Brazilian to ask serious questions about his standing at the Bernabeu.
And while Rodrygo’s mood has improved somewhat since Xabi Alonso took over the reins from Ancelotti, the 24-year-old has been given no assurances that he will feature prominently in the Spaniard’s long-term vision.
Rodrygo’s camp have made it clear they have no intention of getting themselves embroiled in transfer negotiations in the middle of Madrid’s Club World Cup campaign in the United States.
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But the Gunners are confident they can offer Rodrygo a sporting project that could entice the two-time Champions League winner to the Emirates – and developments could shift at a pace over the coming days and weeks.
‘Rodrygo said he didn’t want to play on the right, didn’t he? That’s where the frustration is coming from,’ ex-Manchester City and England defender Richards said on the latest episode of The Rest Is Football.
‘Everyone wants to play on the left, even though they’re right-footed.
‘I think he could leave in the summer, I really believe he could leave.
‘He’s a top player, a top player. He’s been linked with Arsenal.’
On the suggestion that Gabriel Martinelli hasn’t quite lived up to expectations on the left for Arsenal, Richards replied: ‘Yeah, agreed. I think that’s fair.
‘I think Rodrygo would fit in really good in the Arsenal system, for sure.’
Rodrygo will no doubt have been encouraged after being handed a start in Madrid’s Club World Cup opener against Al-Hilal.
However, the Brazil international came off in the 65th minute of Madrid’s 1-1 draw and was subsequently left on the substitutes bench as Los Blancos ran out 3-1 winners over Pachuca on Sunday.
It’s understood teams from the Saudi Pro League are also monitoring Rodrygo’s situation, with Madrid reportedly willing to sell the winger should they receive an offer of around €80million (£67.5m) this summer.
Rodrygo has three years remaining on his current contract in the Spanish capital.
Earlier this month, Arsenal defender Gabriel Magalhaes was asked if he could shed any light on Rodrygo’s current mindset amid rumours he could soon be joined by his fellow countryman in north London.
‘I don’t. No, I don’t, not really,’ he told the Podpah Podcast.
‘But I’d like it, obviously. Rodrygo is a phenomenon, for me. He’s not at Arsenal… I’ve told people already, he’s a phenomenon.
‘His name is mentioned a lot. If it was up to me, of course.’
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