Xabi Alonso directly states the reason for Rodrygo being benched.

Coach Xabi Alonso clarified his decision to leave Rodrygo on the bench during the win against Osasuna, while the Brazilian forward was surrounded by speculation about a Premier League transfer.

In his debut match as Real Madrid’s head coach in La Liga, Alonso opted for an attacking trio of Brahim Diaz, Vinicius Junior, and Kylian Mbappe. It was Mbappe who scored the only goal of the game from the penalty spot, securing a positive start for Los Blancos. Additionally, Alonso gave opportunities to young players Franco Mastantuono and Gonzalo Garcia from the bench, but Rodrygo did not feature.

He spoke out after leaving Rodrygo on the bench in the 1-0 win over Osasuna in the opening round of La Liga, a decision that immediately fueled speculation about the Brazilian star’s future.

Responding to the media after the match, the 43-year-old coach denied any conflict or issues involving the forward. “Rodrygo? Nothing happened. Of course, I still trust him. It was just one game, and the decision was mine,” Alonso affirmed.

Nevertheless, Rodrygo’s absence on the pitch sparked rumors about his potential departure from Bernabeu. Recently, the Brazilian has reportedly attracted interest from several Premier League giants such as Arsenal, Liverpool, and especially Manchester City.

According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, Manchester City have yet to make any concrete moves; they are only considering signing Rodrygo if Savinho leaves Etihad for Tottenham Hotspur. However, that scenario seems unlikely since Savinho only joined City from Troyes last summer and has signed a long-term contract until 2029.

Therefore, at least for this summer, Rodrygo’s chances of leaving Bernabeu remain low. Still, to secure his place in Alonso’s plans, the Brazilian striker will certainly need to work harder in upcoming matches.