The Real Madrid star found himself overlooked at a club he once helped claim European glory.
With Real Madrid’s La Liga title hopes on the line, Carlo Ancelotti benched Rodrygo in the final El Clásico of the season, kickstarting what would soon become a summer-long transfer saga.
Two years ago, the prospect of Rodrygo leaving the Spanish capital would have been laughable. Although he often was outshined by Vinícius Júnior, the winger was an irreplaceable member of Los Blancos’ XI, helping the club win two Champions League and three La Liga titles since he joined in 2019.
Rodrygo’s European heroics against Manchester City alone turned the forward into a hero under the lights at the Santiago Bernabéu.
Yet when Real Madrid needed a victory against Barcelona back in May, he remained an unused substitute. In fact, his season ended that day at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys; Rodrygo did not play another minute under Ancelotti.
