Xabi Alonso Drops Bombshell on Rodrygo Transfer Saga: "That's What Worries Me"

Speculation has surrounded Rodrygo regarding a potential departure from Madrid this summer, though Xabi Alonso remains unfazed by the "speculation" as Real Madrid prepares for their La Liga season opener.

As Real Madrid gets ready to face Osasuna in their opening match of the 2025–26 season, Alonso's starting lineup appears largely predictable. All three of the club's new defensive acquisitions are expected to feature, Valverde looks set to return to his midfield role, and Kylian Mbappé will spearhead the attack.

However, Rodrygo represents the main question mark ahead of Real Madrid's forthcoming match. The Brazilian saw limited playing time during the FIFA Club World Cup under Alonso and has remained the subject of transfer discussions throughout the summer.

The speculation around the winger intensified when Alonso left him out of Los Blancos' single preseason match. Nevertheless, when questioned about Rodrygo's prospects in the famous white jersey, the new Real Madrid manager remained composed.

"Summer brings plenty of speculation. [Rodrygo's] been performing well," Alonso stated during his pre-match media briefing.

"I'm relying on the entire squad, and I expect them to be dedicated to the team and give their maximum effort," he added. "That's my primary focus and concern at this moment."

Rodrygo attracted attention from Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool, Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich during the summer window, though no formal approaches materialized.

Indeed, the 24-year-old regularly used social platforms to demonstrate his loyalty to Real Madrid. His latest post came following his goal against WSG Tirol, where he wrote, "Que empiece 25/26," meaning "Let 25/26 begin."

Whether Rodrygo's short but impressive showing in the preseason match will convince Alonso to restore the attacker to his starting eleven for Tuesday remains uncertain, but it represented an encouraging development. The strike marked Rodrygo's first goal in his previous 16 matches.

Facing competition from Brahim Díaz and Franco Mastantuono, Rodrygo must keep demonstrating his value to Alonso to reclaim his place in the starting lineup. However, the more time the Brazil star spends as a substitute, the greater the possibility of a future departure becomes.