There is little doubt that Rodrygo Goes’ importance at Real Madrid is set to shrink next season, especially with the new manager Xabi Alonso largely relying on a system with just two forwards.
His lack of prominence in the FIFA Club World Cup only served as a trailer for the harsh reality that is going to unfold and there is thus no surprise that the player is largely being linked with a move away from the club.
The Premier League has been known to be his preferred destination for a long time now and Liverpool and Arsenal have been linked with his signing for a while now.
Earlier this week, Tottenham Hotspur entered the race as well and quickly emerged as a party serious about his acquisition.
Rejected by the player
As relayed in a recent report by Santi Aouna, Rodrygo has no interest in joining Spurs despite the club’s interest and reports linking him to the Premier League side.
While Thomas Frank’s men have indeed registered interest in the Real Madrid star, there are no talks ongoing between Real Madrid and Tottenham as of now.
From the player’s perspective, Rodrygo feels he deserves to play for a club bigger than Spurs if he is leaving Real Madrid this summer.
While the statement may appear disrespectful to the English side, the fact remains that Rodrygo is a player who deserves to start for a club genuinely contending for all trophies including the UEFA Champions League.
Tottenham Hotspur finished 17th in the Premier League last season, just above the relegation zone, and were poor in every sense of the word.
They did go on to win the UEFA Europa League and thus qualified for the UCL, but it is clear that they are far from a complete project.
It remains to be seen what comes of Rodrygo’s future and whether the potential moves to Liverpool or Arsenal go through.
Real Madrid have held internal discussions about the possible signing of Club Brugge midfielder Ardon Jashari, as reported by Defensa Central.
The Swiss international is up for sale this summer, and AC Milan were believed to be leading the race. However, the Belgian club’s asking price of €40 million is proving to be a major stumbling block.
Although Jashari has caught the attention of several top European clubs, Milan are hesitant to meet the fee demanded.
Real Madrid, meanwhile, did take time to assess the player, holding multiple conversations at within the club about his potential fit in the team.
Given that strengthening the midfield is something manager Xabi Alonso has pushed for recently, Jashari’s name naturally came up in those talks.
Jashari not living upto the expectations
Despite these discussions, sources close to the club claim that Jashari is not seen as the right fit.
Alonso, along with the club’s decision-makers, reportedly feels that the 22-year-old lacks the quality required to make an immediate impact at the Santiago Bernabeu.
This has cooled the club’s interest, and barring an unexpected change, Real Madrid are unlikely to move forward with a bid.
Instead, the focus within the club has shifted to other matters. The priority is currently on trimming the squad and managing player exits.
Officials believe the key objectives of the transfer window have already been met, especially the aim to bring fresh energy into the backline.
Transfer needs are already addressed
The arrival of promising talents like Dean Huijsen, Franco Mastantuono, Alvaro Carreras, and the experienced Trent Alexander-Arnold has helped strengthen and modernise the defence.
With that part of the plan checked off, Real Madrid are no longer desperate to make big moves in midfield unless a top-tier opportunity becomes available.
For now, the chapter on Ardon Jashari appears to be closed.