Rodrygo has dismissed talk of him leaving Real Madrid this summer after Arsenal were mentioned as one of the clubs interested in signing him.

The Brazil international has still regularly featured for Madrid this season but his minutes have lessened since the arrival of Kylian Mbappe. Exit rumours were sparked into life after he was an unused substitute against Barcelona despite the fact Madrid were losing for just an under an hour.

Carlo Ancelotti later clarified the reason for his absence and lack of minutes in the previous two La Liga games. "Rodrygo has discomfort in his leg. He’s sad for that, but there’s really nothing more," he admitted at a press conference.

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"He had [a] fever and didn’t train last week so he wasn’t fit. He felt uncomfortable and we wanted to look at it. Everyone loves Rodrygo, especially me."

While Ancelotti is a big fan of the 24-year-old, incoming Madrid manager Xabi Alonso may see things differently.

Rodrygo may end up not being part of his plans but for the time being, the man himself has hinted he wants to remain in the Spanish capital in a message on social media.

While in what looks to be a recovery chamber, translated to English, he wrote on : “Thank you for all your messages and concerns. I’ll be back soon. Stop making things up."

The final part of that message seems to be a rather direct response to the rumours circulating about his future. Even with his clear message,

"He is a wide player – they need a number nine, but if you sign him and a number nine, that’s a real statement," he told Football Insider.

"What it would cost you to get Rodrygo, and would he want to go to Arsenal, is two different things. The need for a number nine is pressing.

"[Bukayo] Saka will play on the right-hand side, Rodrygo can play on the left – if you have those two as a wide pairing, that’s one hell of a pairing to fit in behind a world-class number nine."