Rodrygo opens up about Real Madrid future following Mbappe's transfer

Stuart Telford

• 2 Jun 2024 15:00 BST
• 3 min read

Rodrygo's position at Real Madrid will be put under pressure by the arrival of Kylian Mbappe, with a host of Premier League clubs queueing up to acquire the Brazilian star.

Real are set to officially announce the signing of Mbappe on a free transfer from Paris Saint-Germain next week, with Fabrizio Romano posting as much to his social media channels on Sunday 2 June.

Perhaps the greatest free transfer in modern history, 2018 World Cup winner Mbappe can be expected to feature heavily in Ballon d'Or conversations once he hits his stride at the Bernabeu.

READ MORE: Latest Real Madrid transfer rumours

But not everyone is set to benefit from a player who has scored 334 goals for club and country to date and is valued at €104.1 million by FootballTransfers' in-house algorithm.

Rodrygo admires Man City

Madrid - who just won their 15th European Cup - play a 4-3-1-2 under Carlo Ancelotti, and Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Junior look irreplaceable as the No.10 and one of the two runners ahead of him respectively.

That leaves Rodrygo as the attacker most likely to make way for Mbappe, although he said after the most recent Champions League final - a 2-0 win over Borussia Dortmund - "Of course, I'm gonna stay at Real Madrid. Why should I leave?! I’m staying!"

READ MORE: Real Madrid's 10 most expensive transfers of all time

Not many players express a desire to leave the most successful team in European club footballing history, but Rodrygo may have little choice going forward, with Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City among the clubs credited with an interest.

A role from the bench might lie in Rodrygo's future in the Spanish capital, but if he had to leave it is clear which of his potential suitors he admires most.

"For me, City are the best team in the world, the one that plays the best football," he said ahead of the final. "I think that the most difficult rival has already been knocked out…"