
Real Madrid Star Rodrygo Makes Decision On Future
Real Madrid star Rodrygo appears to have made a decision on his future amid the arrival of new head ... More coach Xabi Alonso.
Real Madrid star Rodrygo appears to have made a decision on his future amid the arrival of new head coach Xabi Alonso.
The Brazilian, who landed in the Spanish capital from Santos upon turning 18 in 2019, didn't end the 2024/2025 season in the best of fashions as his club went without major silverware.
As Rodrygo lost his place in the starting line up to Arda Guler, Radio MARCA reported that he didn't want to play for Los Blancos again.
When Guler started El Clasico, and then-manager Carlo Ancelotti brought on Victor Munoz instead of Rodrygo as Madrid looked to equalize FC Barcelona in an 4-3 loss that pretty much saw the visitors cede the La Liga title in Montjuic, it seemed like the end was night for the number 11.
Recent weeks have seen him linked with a potential transfer to Arsenal, while there have been constant rumors of becoming a protagonist on Manchester City's frontline ever since Madrid fans blasted him for praising Pep Guardiola's team in a poorly thought out interview in 2024.
Though there doesn't seem to have been a fallout between Ancelotti and Rodrygo, the Italian taking up the reins for the forward's national team has meant a changing of the guard in that Xabi Alonso now mans Los Blancos' dugout.
A video of Alonso running instructions past Rodrygo on the training ground has already done the rounds on social media, and the player himself took to Instagram by posting pictures of himself preparing for the Club World Cup with the simple caption: 'HAPPY'
SPORT reports that the 'tables have turned' for Rodrygo, who was been convinced to stay at Madrid and 'try to be important in the team' which could above all mean taking back his spot in an attacking trident completed by Vinicius Jr. and Kylian Mbappe.
Ultimately, however, Rodrygo's Real Madrid future might not be in his hands. With his future already threatened by Guler, we also must consider the expected arrival of River Plater wonderkid Franco Mastantuono, who should cross the Atlantic to join Alonso's squad after the Club World Cup.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

Hypebeast
44 minutes ago
- Hypebeast
Real Madrid Celebrates Victory in Style With New Louis Vuitton Official Partnership
Summary The world of football has long intersected with fashion, but few partnerships underscore this synergy with the gravitas of the newly confirmed alliance between French luxury powerhouseLouis Vuittonand Spanish giantsReal Madrid. This multi-year deal sees Louis Vuitton becoming the official formal and travel wear supplier for Real Madrid's men's and women's football teams, as well as the men's basketball team, setting an unprecedented standard for high-end club outfitting. This collaboration is far more than a mere branding exercise; it's a strategic alignment of two global titans that share foundational values: a relentless pursuit of excellence, a rich legacy, and a commitment to innovation. As Pietro Beccari, CEO of Louis Vuitton, aptly put it, 'Real Madrid stands for excellence and evolution… That energy fuels what we do at Louis Vuitton. This wardrobe was made to move with that same spirit – pieces that travel with purpose, strength and style.' Designed by Men's Creative DirectorPharrell Williams, the exclusive wardrobe curated for Real Madrid is a testament to Louis Vuitton's renowned art of tailoring and a blend of sophisticated functionality. Players and staff will be outfitted in bespoke tailored suits, ready-to-wear garments, and accessories for official appearances and travel. Key elements include formal jackets and trousers adorned with subtle embossed VVN leather labels, LV Soft shoes, and elegant accessories like embroidered caps and palladium-buckled belts. Perhaps most striking is the custom travel line, featuring iconic pieces like the Horizon 55 suitcase, Keepall bag, and Christopher backpack. These items are rendered in Louis Vuitton's signature Monogram canvas, meticulously detailed with Real Madrid's distinctive white-and-gold accents and 'RM' initials – crafted exclusively for the teams and not available for retail. This exclusivity underscores the premium nature of the partnership and offers a tantalizing glimpse for fans. The visual campaign supporting the announcement is equally impactful, showcasing top players including Éder Militão, Dani Carvajal,Kylian Mbappé,Jude Bellingham, Vinicius Júnior, and Thibaut Courtois posing atop Louis Vuitton trunks outside the iconic Santiago-Bernabéu Stadium. This imagery powerfully conveys the fusion of sporting royalty and luxury craftsmanship. This partnership extends Louis Vuitton's growing influence in elite sports, a heritage that includes crafting trophy trunks for prestigious competitions like the FIFA World Cup and the Ballon d'Or. As Emilio Butragueño, Real Madrid's Director of Institutional Relations noted, 'Both institutions transcend time and tradition. We aim not just to build a legacy but to inspire.' The Louis Vuitton x Real Madrid alliance is poised to do just that, dressing the world's most decorated club in unparalleled style, both on and off the pitch.


New York Times
2 hours ago
- New York Times
FIFA Club World Cup betting: The race to turn £10 into £100 before July 13
For more stories like this, click here to follow The Athletic's sports betting section and have them added to your feed. In theory, a Club World Cup featuring 32 teams from across the globe is great. But in practice? We're about to find out if it's as impractical and downright nasty as many have predicted. Advertisement If it does turn into an exhausted exhibition of zombified footballers going through the motions, we at least need a contingency plan to make it fun — and that's what sports betting is for! To spice up events such as this. Welcome to a brand-new series here on The Athletic called 'The Race to 100,' where our writers Sam Tighe and Brett Koremenos compete against each other to turn £10 into £100 as quickly as possible. Each writer will start with a £10 kitty, with the opportunity to reload after each round of fixtures. They can bet in £2 increments (or units, in betting parlance) on Club World Cup fixtures. They're free to place it all on one outcome or spread it across multiple bets, but no accumulators are allowed. The goal? Get to £100 before your opponent — or, in the likely event both fail, come out ahead of the other to secure bragging rights. All clear? Alright, let's get on with the picks … Stake: Two units | Potential payout: £8.40 Even though Sam is knowledgeable about clubs like Wydad AC and the Urawa Red Diamonds, I'm sticking to betting on games that feature at least one club I'm familiar with. With PSG and Atleti, I get the bonus of wagering on two sides that played each other last season. In that group-stage Champions League game in November, PSG secured a 2-1 victory with an expected goal (xG) total between the clubs sitting at 2.8. Despite Atleti conceding most of those chances, they were the best defensive team in Spain last year. Given PSG will likely still be recovering from their Champions League final hangover, I can't see them putting the pedal to the metal this Sunday as they did in that November showdown. So, please give me the under in what may be an uninspired affair. Stake: Three units | Potential payout: £12.60 As I mentioned in our tournament preview, I'm bullish on Los Blancos. On the other hand, despite Al-Hilal finishing second in the Saudi Pro League, they looked defensively mediocre, conceding the seventh-most goals in the league. That seems to make sense for a side that had Aleksandar Mitrović — a striker who isn't known for his generosity — leading the line. Advertisement Could Xabi Alonso's men live up to their moniker as the betting favourites to win the tournament? They have attempted the fifth-most shots per 90 minutes in Europe's top five leagues this past season, have added a generational passer in Trent Alexander-Arnold, and still have Kylian Mbappé. I'll take even money that Mitrović and Co. aren't exactly going to be building a brick wall in front of Al-Hilal's goal. Stake: Three units | Potential payout: £7.50 I don't know what Brett's talking about; I've never seen Wydad AC play. However, I suppose he's right in that I'm immediately going to dive into the weird and wonderful world of upsets. There's going to be an upset in the first round, and I have quickly become obsessed with finding it. Could a tired, sad and somewhat veteran Inter side fall unexpectedly? Monterrey hasn't exactly fired on all cylinders this year. Still, there's a lot of wily, seasoned talent in that squad, including Sergio Ramos, Óliver Torres and Lucas Ocampos, who know a thing or two about the big stage. Taking Monterrey to win at 9/2 is so enticing, but I'm not that bold. Backing Monterrey to win or draw shortens the odds but is inherently safer. Stake: Two units | Potential payout: £5.60 There are seven fresh faces in Chelsea's Club World Cup squad. It's clear they're taking it seriously but also evident that they're using the tournament to take a good look at youngsters like Dário Essugo and Andrey Santos. Could unfamiliarity create some defensive hiccups? Enzo Maresca's playing style certainly takes some getting used to. If there are turnovers or mistakes in midfield, LAFC's rapid counter-attacking threat, led by the excellent Dénis Bouanga, could take advantage. It makes me think the MLS team is good for a goal here, even if they do end up falling to a superior side. Betting/Odds links in this article are provided by partners of The Athletic. Restrictions may apply. The Athletic maintains complete editorial independence. Partners have no control over or input into the reporting or editing process and do not review stories before publication.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Potential payday puts extra Pep into players' step
When Rodri suggested in September that players could strike over their increased workload, it seemed the newly expanded Club World Cup was the last thing Manchester City needed. The influential Spanish midfielder may also have been making a point about the expanded Champions League format, but the additional tournament in the US, shoe-horned into a period normally kept free for rest, was clearly a bone of contention. "I think we are close to that," the Ballon d'Or winner said when asked if players could stage industrial action over their seemingly ever-growing fixture commitments. "If it keeps this way, (there) will be a moment that we have no other option, but let's see." As the season unfolded, with City suffering an uncharacteristic blip - failing to put up a strong defence of the Premier League title they had won for the previous four years, and exiting the Champions League before the last 16 - it looked like they would need the break to regroup. Yet as the time has neared, no doubt helped by the announcement the winners of FIFA's latest showcase event could pocket nearly £100 million ($A209 million), the tone has changed. If Pep Guardiola has reservations about fixture congestion, injuries and a lack of preparation time for next season - all more than hinted at over the past season - he is now keeping them to himself. "This is a very, very serious competition," the City manager said recently with typical vigour. "In the summer, the whole world will be watching this. "A big number of the top teams in the world will be competing in this tournament, and I can assure you we're going to give it our best shot. We're going there to win it." City were the last team to win the Club World Cup in its old guise in December 2023, but that only required them to win two games in four days. The new quadrennial tournament is a different proposition, featuring 32 teams and lasting a month, following a format used for the traditional World Cup. City have been placed in Group G for this edition in the US alongside Morocco's Wydad Casablanca, Al Ain of Abu Dhabi and Italian side Juventus. Their regular Champions League foes, Real Madrid, could lie in wait in the first knockout round. Other notable sides involved include newly crowned European champions Paris St Germain and beaten finalists Inter Milan, Chelsea, Bayern Munich, Atletico Madrid and Borussia Dortmund. There are 12 European entrants in total, with six from South America, four each from Africa and Asia, five from North America and one from Oceania. Brazil has the most participants of any country with four. The tournament, which begins on Saturday (Sunday AEST), has had plenty of detractors, particularly from Europe, and its success remains to be seen. However, for City the message is now clear: they would rather be involved than not. "It's an honour," Guardiola said. "It means in the last seasons we have done really well. It's a new competition for us and I'm looking forward to it." City play their first game against Wydad in Philadelphia on Thursday (AEST).