Rodrygo to Arsenal transfer twist as Real Madrid make bombshell decision

Arsenal target Rodrygo has suffered a fresh blow at Real Madrid as speculation over his long-term future at the Bernabeu continues.

The Gunners are among a handful of Premier League clubs, including Liverpool and Tottenham, rumoured to be monitoring the winger should he depart Real Madrid this summer. The Brazilian has fallen out of favour under new head coach Xabi Alonso and played only a bit-part role during their recent Club World Cup campaign in the United States.

Although there are conflicting reports over whether Rodrygo himself is eager to move on in search of a more prominent starting role, the latest developments suggest he may no longer be at the forefront of the manager’s plans. Real Madrid boast a wealth of attacking options, including the likes of Vinicius Junior and Kylian Mbappe, while 21-year-old Gonzalo Garcia is the latest to make an impression in the Spanish capital.

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According to MARCA, there is no possibility of the forward heading out on loan this summer, as he is now viewed as a permanent member of Madrid’s first-team squad. Following his promising Club World Cup campaign, Garcia has earned the trust of the manager and received assurances over playing time, despite fierce competition across the forward line.

There is also a possibility he will be rewarded with the No.9 shirt, a move that would only serve to underscore his status as a senior figure within the squad. Garcia has two years remaining on his current deal but is reportedly in line for a new contract to reward his progress.

With the likes of Brahim Diaz and teenager Endrick also battling for places in the team, the emergence of Garcia and his promotion to the first-team fold could push Rodrygo closer to the exit door. If widespread reports in Spain are to be believed, Real Madrid will not allow the 24-year-old to leave on the cheap, but may be willing to lower their £78 million asking price in order to facilitate a move.

Earlier this week the Brazilian appeared to show his focus is on life in Madrid as he shared an update after returning for pre-season. In a series of messages on social media website Instagram, Rodrygo gave an insight into his current mindset heading into the new season.

He then posted on his Instagram story to post two different messages to Real Madrid. The first was one of a view of Madrid from his balcony with the location of Madrid and a white love heart before adding an image of him back at the club's training base alongside the caption: "Volvemos a la oficina," which translates to 'we return to the office'.

Starting with a catalogue of pictures from his summer downtime, he put: "Holidays completed. Clear mind and many missions ahead! *eyes emoji* *praise hands emoji*."