Ancelotti Addresses Rodrygo Injury Concerns Amid Exit Rumors

Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti says Rodrygo Goes has a leg injury and was recently ill, explaining his absence from the team’s last few games.

WHAT HAPPENED?

Rodrygo was injured during training just two days before the team’s final home game of the season against Real Mallorca. His injury is a development in what has been a strange spell for the Brazilian. Just last week, he was mysteriously left out of the squad for the Celta Vigo match. The week before, Rodrygo played just the first half of a must-win Clasico against Barcelona—the kind of game he would normally have started and completed.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

It is clear that Rodrygo is dealing with an injury, but the timing of it is unfortunate because of mounting speculation about his future. The 24-year-old agreed to extend his contract earlier this year, only for Real Madrid to put the deal on hold and delay the formal signing of the paperwork. Right now, it is difficult to say what impact—if any—Rodrygo’s decision to stick with his terms signed six years ago has had on his future, but it does not take a leap of the imagination to see why growing sections of the Bernabeu crowd have their suspicions.

WHAT ANCELOTTI SAID

“Everyone loves Rodrygo, especially me,” Ancelotti said. “He has had a physical problem. This is a team that has very clear rules and I can assure you that there is no problem there. Everyone is treated equally and there are no issues with this. Everybody has been clear and honest with me, Rodrygo as well. Today he has had severe discomfort. Whether it is severe or not, we will see in the next few days.”

WHAT NEXT FOR REAL MADRID?

This final week of the season is going to be crucial for Real Madrid, who need to pick up two wins from two games to guarantee defending their La Liga title. But they will almost certainly have to do without Rodrygo, who could yet play his final game for the team if recent rumors prove correct and he does move away from the Bernabeu in the summer.