Mourinho makes Rodrygo available as Arsenal weigh up £80m Real Madrid forward

Jose Mourinho has made Rodrygo his first notable casualty at Real Madrid, with the club willing to let the Brazilian winger leave the Bernabeu this summer — a development that will interest Arsenal, who held genuine interest in the 24-year-old as recently as last year.

According to Mundo Deportivo, Real would not stand in Rodrygo’s way if he pushed for an exit, though the player himself currently wants to stay and compete for his place under Mourinho. That stance could shift if first-team minutes remain scarce.

The numbers tell a stark story. Rodrygo scored just three goals in 27 appearances last season — a dramatic drop from the 19 he managed three years ago. With Kylian Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior entrenched as Mourinho’s primary attacking weapons, and Brahim Díaz having earned more opportunities than Rodrygo in the previous campaign, the path back to regular football at the Bernabeu looks narrow.

Arsenal’s interest last summer was understood to be genuine, with manager Mikel Arteta drawn to Rodrygo’s versatility across the front three. The sticking point then, as now, is price: Real Madrid have previously valued the Brazilian at around £80 million, a figure that would represent a significant outlay and could complicate any deal.

Since that initial interest, Arsenal have moved to strengthen their wide options regardless, bringing in Noni Madueke and Eberechi Eze, both of whom made encouraging impressions in their debut seasons at the Emirates. That added depth may reduce the urgency of a Rodrygo pursuit, particularly given the Gunners appear more focused on signing a central striker. Atlético Madrid’s Julián Álvarez is among the names being linked with a return to the Premier League following two prolific seasons in Spain.

Mourinho, in his second spell at the Bernabeu, has moved quickly to reshape the squad. Real have already signed Marc Cucurella from Chelsea for £51 million, while Bernardo Silva has arrived on a free transfer following his departure from Manchester City. Rodrygo’s future, for now, remains unresolved — but the window is open.