Real Madrid star Rodrygo is one of the left-wing options being linked with a summer move to Arsenal and a swoop for the Brazil international could see the Gunners follow a pattern
Arsenal go into the summer transfer window in desperate need of a new striker, but a new left-winger is also high on their shopping list. Plenty of names have been linked, with the noise around Nico Williams not going away, but Rodrygo is the latest to be touted as the answer.
The Real Madrid star has looked like the odd man out at the Bernabeu since Kylian Mbappe’s arrival last summer, and that’s unlikely to change when Xabi Alonso takes over as manager. He was left on the bench for the Clasico defeat which effectively handed Barcelona the title, and wasn’t even in the squad for Madrid’s last two games against Mallorca and Sevilla.
Mbappe is here to stay, while it’s hard to see a scenario where Vinicius Junior is allowed to move on this summer. Rodrygo could still fetch a tidy sum, though, while still allowing Arsenal to buy at a discount.
The prospect of bringing in a player for below their market value might not be the only appealing factor for Arsenal. They have had plenty of success signing top talents from La Liga in the past, and manager Mikel Arteta may well be willing to try his luck. Asked about interest in the Brazil international on Thursday, the Arsenal boss made clear his desire to add to his attack.
“If you want to win major trophies, you have to be the best in the market, no? The teams that win always have the best players,” said the Gunners boss. “I wouldn’t like to name a player, but there is pride because we have brought the club into a position that next season people are saying: ‘You have to win a major trophy.’
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“And that means that everybody believes, and that we are an elite team in this country and in Europe. The biggest statement is that Arsenal is there.
“What is clear with the amount of injuries that we had in the front line is that we need a goal threat and we need firepower. Understanding that the context can change tomorrow, we cannot rely just on the numbers that we had before. We have to add goals, creativity, and we have to add numbers, and that will be in different positions.”
Certainly, he will hope history can repeat itself. The obvious stand-out example comes in the form of Martin Odegaard, who was allowed to leave the Spanish capital and is now Arsenal’s captain and one of their most important players.
He isn’t the only example, though. Back in 2013, the Gunners saw Madrid spend big on Isco and Gareth Bale and seized their opportunity. A deadline day move saw Mesut Ozil move to North London and he enjoyed several fruitful years there – even if things didn’t end in the best way.
Twelve months later, they raided Madrid’s rivals Barcelona instead. The Catalan club had a busy summer of their own, with Luis Suarez among those to arrive, and that left Barca feeling they could cope without Alexis Sanchez.
In Barcelona’s defence, they were arguably correct on that matter as they went on to win the Champions League. Arsenal were able to benefit too, though, Three great seasons were followed by a sharp decline, but the highs were very high.
It isn’t the first time Rodrygo has been linked with a move to the Premier League. Liverpool were keen on the Brazil international before he left his home country for Spain, but at the time he was in no mood to leave boyhood club Santos.
“We didn’t close the deal because I didn’t want to. I wanted to stay at Santos even though the offer was very good,” he said in 2024.
“The pathway they promised me would also have been very good for my career. I was going to finish my studies in England to prepare for European football.
“It had always been my dream to play in Europe. Everything was very good, but my desire spoke louder. I wanted to stay at Santos and make a bit of history at the club. And that’s what happened: I was able to fulfil my dream of playing for Santos. But it’s true, I almost went to Liverpool.”
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