Spanish local media and broadcasters strongly criticized coach Xabi Alonso's comments.
Real Madrid advanced to the semifinals by defeating Juventus 1-0 in the quarterfinals of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup held on the 2nd (Korean time). The performance was not entirely satisfactory. The first half saw Real Madrid struggling against Juventus, and it was not until the second half that they managed to gain the advantage. The winning goal was scored by youth product Gonzalo García.
What drew more attention than the performance was the comments made by coach Alonso before the match and the inconsistency that followed. Xabi Alonso stated in a pre-match press conference that "Rodrigo will play an important role in the club world cup." This statement seemed to emphasize trust in Rodrigo, who is rumored to be transferring.
The outcome was different. Rodrigo did not participate in this match or the previous one against Pachuca. He played for 65 minutes in the first match against Al-Hilal, but he only had 24 minutes of playing time in the subsequent match against RB Salzburg. With a pattern of reduced playing time, he did not receive an opportunity in the crucial two tournament matches.
In this regard, a debate erupted on the Spanish radio program 'El Partidazo' hosted by Paco González. He raised the question, "I am really curious now. Can Rodrigo remain at Real Madrid? I am really skeptical right now."
Co-host Juanma Castaño was much more direct. He said, "Xabi Alonso lied in the press conference yesterday. He said Rodrigo would play an important role, but that was not the case at all," adding, "If you keep him on the bench and don't even let him warm up, that is neglect, not trust."
Juanma Castaño is a leading sports journalist in Spain with nearly 30 years of experience, active in a wide range of areas including football, cycling commentary, cooking shows, and radio and TV hosting.
He added, "At this point, it has become clear that the chances of Rodrigo being utilized as a core resource under Alonso's regime at Real Madrid are almost nonexistent. This is a difficult message for Rodrigo to accept."
Real Madrid will face German powerhouse Borussia Dortmund in their next match. The gap between coach Xabi Alonso's statements and actual usage seems likely to affect the club's internal standing. This is why Rodrigo's situation has regained attention.
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