Real Madrid head coach Xabi Alonso has said he is counting on Rodrygo amid links to Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City. After playing a bit-part role at the Club World Cup earlier in the summer, the Brazilian continues to be linked with a Santiago Bernabeu exit before the transfer window closes.

With competition from Brahim Díaz and Franco Mastantuono, Rodrygo will have to continue proving his worth to Alonso if he wants to regain his starting job. The longer the Brazil international sits on the bench, though, the closer he could come to a potential exit.

Real Madrid is starting a new stage and, as Xabi Alonso promised in his presentation, when he expressed his desire to "ignite" the fans, the first team

Alonso has made it clear that he counts on all his players and that the key to the team's success lies in the total involvement of each one. "I count on all those who are here. We need everyone to be at 100%. Right now, I count on everyone", stated the coach.

One day before its 2025-26 La Liga campaign begins in earnest, Real Madrid is bracing for a long season spread across four competitions, and manager Xabi Alonso knows that squad rotation will become paramount in ensuring squad fitness down the line.

One of the untouchable players that Xabi Alonso has pointed out for his gala starting eleven is "people have to see that you are a real defender". Because

Alonso made it clear that he counts on all his players and that the key to the team's success lies in the total commitment of each one. "I count on everyone we have. We need everyone to be at one hundred percent. Right now, I count on everyone", stated the coach.

Franco Mastantuono, the new Real Madrid player, had chosen Lionel Messi as his favorite player, and coach Xabi Alonso gave his opinion on the matter.