Rodrygo Goes has enjoyed an exceptional time at Real Madrid in recent seasons and is subsequently attracting interest from Arsenal, but it wasn’t always rosy for the winger at the Bernabeu.
Mikel Arteta is intent on signing Rodrygo this summer, with the Spaniard believing the Brazilian can take the Gunners’ attack to the next level.
The 24-year-old may be surplus to requirements under new Real Madrid boss Xabi Alonso, who is looking to move to a 4-4-2 system, which could open the door for Arsenal to make their move.
Having been with the La Liga giants for six years now, Rodrygo has won numerous trophies in the Spanish capital, but may be ready to make the step away and out of the shadows of Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior.
Rodrygo’s 2020/21 season was his lowest point before becoming a star
Bursting onto the scene with Santos in Brazil at a young age, Rodrygo was identified by Real Madrid scouts as potentially being the next big talent to emerge from the South American nation.
Los Blancos splashed around €45 million (£38 million) on the wide forward in the summer of 2019, and he enjoyed a promising first season in Spain.
Having only turned 18 months before his move to the Bernabeu, senior figures at Real Madrid were aware that Rodrygo would need time to develop and settle in a new country, yet he still managed to net seven goals in his debut campaign.
However, the following 12 months were the toughest of his career thus far.
With a season in Spain under his belt, expectations had risen, and unhealthy comparisons to the electric Vinicius were widespread.
While he only turned 20 during the 2020/21 campaign, he had been expected to kick on and there was pressure on him to do so given the significant outlay Real Madrid forked out on him.
Scoring just once in 22 La Liga games, Rodrygo struggled for consistency and was regularly criticised by fans and the hostile Spanish media for his failure to regularly impact games.
A serious hamstring injury kept him out for 66 days between December and February, but this didn’t stop question marks being raised about his long-term suitability to Real Madrid.
Resolutely, he responded with some stunning contributions to La Casa Blanca’s Champions League triumph the following season, before exploding in the 2022/23 campaign.
Rodrygo is the stardust player Arsenal need
The 2020/21 season was by far the most challenging of Rodrygo’s career, and he’s since established himself as one of the best wingers in world football.
Arsenal have reportedly made Rodrygo their priority target this summer, and they’re right to do so.
| Rodrygo’s La Liga Statistics 2024/25 | |
| Appearances | 30 |
| Goals | 6 |
| Assists | 5 |
| Shots per 90 | 2.52 |
| Expected Goals per 90 | 0.19 |
| Key Passes per 90 | 2.29 |
| Successful Take-Ons per 90 | 2.29 |
The Gunners need to add a layer of stardust to their frontline, someone who can ease the pressure on Bukayo Saka to produce moments of magic.
Rodrygo is the man to do this, as shown by his impressive data above.
Completing more successful take-ons per 90 minutes than anyone in Arsenal’s squad, the Brazil international has the ability to break tight games open with unpredictable movement in tight areas, a key skill that the Gunners lack.
Meanwhile, his final third output is likely to go up substantially if he doesn’t have to carry the other forwards defensively, like he does at Real Madrid.
He’d be one of the best Arsenal signings in recent times.
Receive a digest of our best Arsenal content each week direct to your mailbox
