Rodrygo on the Bench Again as Manchester City Monitor Situation

Rodrygo stayed on the bench as Real Madrid beat Osasuna 1-0 in their first LaLiga match of the season. Manchester City are watching Rodrygo’s situation closely, but any move for the Brazilian winger depends on whether Savinho will leave for Tottenham — with that deal currently stalled.

WHY DID RODRYGO NOT FEATURE FOR REAL MADRID?

It was the second consecutive match in which Rodrygo did not play any part. Manager Xabi Alonso decided not to bring him on against Osasuna, even though it was a close contest that was decided by a Kylian Mbappe penalty in the second half. The game saw summer signings Franco Mastantuono and Carreras make their first appearances for Los Blancos, which increases competition in the attack. Real Madrid kicked off their new LaLiga season with three points and are sitting near the top of the table, alongside all the other opening day winners. Rodrygo’s lack of playing time early on is a surprise, given his previous importance to the team and his record of 16 goals and eight assists in all competitions last season.

WHY DO MANCHESTER CITY WANT TO SIGN RODRYGO?

Manchester City are monitoring Rodrygo, but exploring the possibility of signing him could depend on Savino’s potential exit to Tottenham. However, that transfer is currently blocked by the City hierarchy, meaning no deal is close to being completed at the moment. The Cityzens are preparing for another Premier League title defence and look to bolster their attack for both the domestic and European challenges. Their interest in Rodrygo reflects the winger’s versatility and significant experience in the Champions League.

WHAT NEXT FOR RODRYGO AND MANCHESTER CITY?

Real Madrid’s next action in LaLiga is away against an Oviedo side who are expected to be fighting for survival this season. Their win over Osasuna puts Real Madrid level with the likes of Barcelona and Athletic Bilbao, with only goal difference keeping them out of the top spot after one match.

Unless there are injuries to Vinicius Jr or Mbappe, Rodrygo may continue to see limited game time this campaign, which could spark further transfer talks. However, a move to Manchester could be dictated by the situation at City, with the club waiting to offload Savinho before signing another winger.