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soccer

Rodrygo and Militao become Spanish passport holders

The Brazilians have received dual nationality, which allows Real Madrid to sign in January. Bellingham, the number one target.

Joe Brennan
Update:
Real Madrid players Militao, Vinicius and Rodrygo, during a training session at the Ciudad Deportiva de Valdebebas. All three already have dual nationality.
Rodrigo JiménezDiarioAS

Rodrygo Goes (21) and Eder Militao (24) have now acquired dual nationality and will no longer occupy a non-EU position among the Real Madrid ranks, something both they and the club had been waiting for a long time. They join Vinicius, who received dual nationality at the beginning of September and has just signed a new, long-term deal at the club. In making this move, Madrid has vacated its three non-EU places in the squad, opening up the possibility of being able to sign other non-EU players in the January transfer market.

Madrid had been having a problem with its non-EU players for some time: Kubo, Reinier, both sold with a buyback option, or Vinicius Tobías, who is playing for Real Madrid Castilla. There was a certain group of non-EU players that were hindering Madrid’s future planning, as no other players could be registered. La Liga regulations only allow three non-EU footballers in the squad, which until now was made up of the Militao-Rodrygo couple. To combat this, the long and tedious process that had been creeping along slowly due to the Coronavirus pandemic has finally come to an end. The three Brazilians are now Spanish.

Real Madrid, as mentioned, started the season with three non-EU players: Vinicius, Rodrygo and Militao. The three of them have obtained their Spanish passports just 53 days apart, something that will allow the Whites to strengthen their squad if they so wish. This is where the case of Englishman Jude Bellingham comes in, as Real Madrid would be keen to sign the Dortmund teenager.

Hey, Jude. We’re looking at you.