Out-of-favour Real Madrid star senses a chance to return to Alonso’s plans | OneFootball

Xabi Alonso’s Real Madrid are not perfect and still have clear areas where they must improve. If anything, the defeat to Liverpool highlighted the same.

The midfield and attack, in particular, continue to be areas where the manager must identify his best formula and the situation is now getting interesting.

As relayed in a recent report by AS, Rodrygo thus smells room to come in and swoop a boost for himself given the uncertainty in the manager’s head, especially given that the stars seem to have aligned in his favour.

Time to step up?

The young Brazilian has not seen much game-time as a starter so far this season, but his situation could rapidly change in the coming weeks with Franco Mastantuono suffering from Pubalgia and the team’s calendar being conducive for rotations.

Rodrygo want to get back in Real Madrid’s starting XI. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

Mastantuono and Brahim Diaz have been Xabi Alonso’s go-to option for the right wing this season, but with the former being ruled out, Rodrygo could well see minutes as a starter in the position and even take over from Diaz as a better option.

There was a lot of talk at the beginning of the season about Alonso preferring to use Rodrygo as a left-winger where he is comfortable and not on the right side where he feels out of place.

Against Liverpool, however, the coach called on the Selecao star to feature on the right flank after coming off the bench. The situation, thus, has changed and Rodrygo will be willing to take up any role he can.

So far this season, the 24-year-old has just started two games for Real Madrid in La Liga and averages just 28 minutes per game.

In the UEFA Champions League, he has started just one game and averages just over half an hour per game.