While Liverpool and Bayern Munich are still locked in a tussle over Real Madrid forward Rodrygo, Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur have suddenly joined the fray – chairman Daniel Levy has waded in with a plan, declaring: Want to take this Brazilian star? First, get the price down below €90 million.
Previously, Liverpool and Bayern were seen as the “front-runners” in the race for Rodrygo, with Arsenal and Chelsea having long since shown a lukewarm attitude. Now Tottenham have gatecrashed the party, and they’re not without clout: this summer, they’ve already splashed nearly €200 million to sign Kudus, Gibbs-White, and buy out Tel and Danso. With a Champions League spot secured for next season, they’re eager to add more firepower to their attack.
Yet, beneath Tottenham’s enthusiasm lies caution: despite the club’s senior management being highly impressed by Rodrygo, they know “saving money is key”. Fittingly, Real Madrid and Tottenham have always enjoyed a good relationship, so Levy is hoping to use that goodwill to drive a hard bargain, vowing to push the transfer fee into the sub-€90 million range.
Interestingly, none of the clubs interested in Rodrygo have yet opened formal talks with Real Madrid, but behind the scenes, they’ve long been chatting with people close to the player – a “silent contest” of sorts. And Rodrygo himself has his own plans: before nodding to any offer, he needs to have a deep talk with Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso about his future. The two sides have agreed to sit down once the Club World Cup is over – whether he stays to redefine his role or waves goodbye will become clear then.
The tug-of-war over the Brazilian forward has grown more unpredictable with Tottenham’s entry. Will Levy’s “price-cutting mission” succeed? Which team’s jersey will Rodrygo end up wearing? It seems we’ll have to wait for that crucial post-Club World Cup conversation to lift the veil.