Rodrygo Goes was nowhere to be seen. The Brazilian didn’t play a single minute—and didn’t even warm up—despite being named in the squad for Real Madrid’s latest match against Pachuca. Just days earlier, he had been in the starting lineup against Al Hilal.

Why didn’t Rodrygo play for Real Madrid against Pachuca?

His fall from grace has been swift and striking. In what now feels like a symbolic gesture, Xabi Alonso handed Rodrygo (24) a start in his debut as Real Madrid manager. But just one game later, the winger found himself right back where he ended last season under Carlo Ancelotti: on the sidelines, fading into irrelevance.

Against Pachuca, with Madrid cruising to a comfortable win, Xabi chose to give minutes to academy prospect Víctor Muñoz instead of Rodrygo. That decision has only fueled growing doubts over the Brazilian’s future in Madrid—a situation that’s been teetering for months.

Rodrygo’s fading importance in Madrid

Rodrygo has played just 65 minutes of competitive soccer in the last three months—all of them in the game against Al Hilal. Since February 1, he’s registered just one goal and four assists in 1,485 minutes of action (roughly the equivalent of 16.5 matches).

It’s not just underwhelming—it’s downright alarming when you compare it to players with far fewer minutes. For instance, academy forward Gonzalo has two goals and two assists in just 197 minutes. Rodrygo’s last goal came all the way back on March 4, when he scored the opener in the Champions League clash against Atlético Madrid.

So when Rodrygo didn’t even come off the bench against Pachuca—especially with the game already in hand—it raised eyebrows.

His end-of-season exile under Ancelotti had already sparked questions. After being subbed off at halftime in the Copa del Rey final due to a vague muscle issue, he missed four straight games without a clear medical report. Though he did make the squad for the league Clásico, no one really knew what was going on. On May 14, he posted a cryptic update on social media: “I’ll be back soon. Stop making things up,” along with a photo of himself in a hyperbaric chamber.

Xabi Alonso’s mixed messages on Rodrygo: what did he say?

To be fair, Xabi Alonso hasn’t exactly iced him out—at least not publicly. “Rodrygo is a spectacular player. That’s not up for debate. We’re going to need him,” he said at his introductory press conference. And true to his word, Xabi started him against Al Hilal. Rodrygo repaid the faith by assisting Gonzalo’s goal, but overall, his performance was subdued. He was eventually replaced by Brahim Díaz.

And then came the cold shoulder. Rodrygo was the only change dropped from the starting XI against Pachuca. His spot went to Güler, who had impressed as a second-half sub in the previous match. Even as Xabi juggled lineups and systems—especially after Asencio’s red card—there was still no room for Rodrygo.

First came Brahim for Gonzalo to shore up the midfield. Then Modrić and Ceballos came on for Bellingham and Güler to inject fresh legs. With the score at 3–0, Rüdiger replaced Trent Alexander-Arnold to get some minutes after a two-month injury layoff. Finally, in the 87th minute, Víctor Muñoz replaced Vinícius Jr.

Rodrygo never got off the bench. Not even in garbage time. A homegrown player came on instead of a Brazilian international—a scenario that would’ve been unthinkable under Ancelotti, who maintained a strict hierarchy in his squad management.

It’s still early in Xabi Alonso’s tenure, and he’s clearly experimenting—both with personnel and tactics—as he figures out what kind of team he wants to build. Rodrygo’s future may hinge on how those ideas develop.

But the competition is fierce. Güler is gaining momentum. Brahim offers a skill set better suited to Xabi’s vision of a midfield-dominant team. Kylian Mbappé is set to return, closing off the occasional central striker role Rodrygo used to fill. And now there’s buzz around 17-year-old wonderkid Franco Mastantuono, a flashy new signing who also plays on the right wing.

Will Rodrygo leave Real Madrid this summer?

With Real Madrid investing heavily this summer—and three years removed from their last major player sale—a Rodrygo departure could be the financial and sporting release valve the club needs.

And the Premier League is watching. Rodrygo’s future? Very much up in the air.

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