Summers at Real Madrid rarely go by quietly, and this year was no exception.
There was no shortage of transfer speculation in the Spanish capital as the Xabi Alonso era began, with Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dean Huijsen, Franco Mastantuono, and Alvaro Carreras among the big arrivals.
Meanwhile, the Santiago Bernabeu also bid farewell to two legends: Luka Modric and Lucas Vazquez.
But one player who found himself at the center of persistent rumors was Brazilian forward Rodrygo.
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Rodrygo opens up on transfer rumors
After being linked with a host of Premier League clubs over the summer, Rodrygo has finally responded to the chatter, making it clear he never intended to leave Madrid.
Having lost his starting place under Carlo Ancelotti toward the end of last season, speculation continued to mount over the forward’s future.
Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester City, and Tottenham Hotspur were all said to be monitoring his situation, and his limited role during the summer’s Club World Cup only added more fuel to the fire.
Yet despite the talk, the 24-year-old kept calm and says he always knew his future was always in Madrid.
Speaking to TNT Sports after Real Madrid’s hard-fought Champions League opener against Olympique Marseille, Rodrygo admitted he often joked about the endless gossip.
“I’m used to it. Every year they say I’m leaving,” he said. “During the transfer window, every week I was on a different team.
“I even joked with my parents and friends, ‘Look, today I’m on this one, tomorrow I’m on that one.’ Every week I was on a different team, but, as I said, I was very calm mentally and it didn’t affect me at all.
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— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) September 14, 2025
“I continued enjoying my vacation, training because I knew this was where I would continue.
“Well, in the end, I’m still at home, in the place I always dreamed of being. I’ll continue giving my all every day I wear this shirt.”
Rodrygo’s enduring commitment finally looks to be serving him well under Alonso.
Unlike during the majority of Ancelotti’s tenure, where Rodrygo was largely restricted to the right flank, Madrid’s new boss has already trusted him to start ahead of Vinicius Junior on several occasions this season, including in their opening Champions League win over Marseille.
“I train and dedicate myself every day, waiting for opportunities,” Rodrygo added.
“The manager [Alonso] been changing a lot, he’s been playing differently in every game.
“He started the season by putting me more on the left, but everyone knows I can play inside and on the right, as I always have.”
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