Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta believes Real Madrid man would become a superstar if he played for Gunners: Reports

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta believes that Real Madrid forward Rodrygo Goes could become a superstar at the Emirates, according to journalist Mario Cortegana (via @DeadlineDayLive on X). The Brazilian forward's future at the Santiago Bernabeu is reportedly unclear following a mixed 2024/25 campaign.

Rodrygo registered 14 goals and 10 assists from 51 games across competitions last term. However, he is no longer an indispensable member of Los Blancos' starting XI, with Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior, and Jude Bellingham now the face of the project.

With Xabi Alonso taking over from Carlo Ancelotti last month, Rodrygo remains heavily linked with a move away from Real Madrid. Arsenal are long-term admirers of the 24-year-old and are among the clubs linked with the player at the moment.

Mikel Arteta is reportedly a fan of Rodrygo, and believes that the player can help the Gunners hit a higher gear. The Spanish manager is convinced that the Brazilian is perfect for the left forward role in his attack.

Arteta wants the north London side to secure a move for Rodrygo this summer, although prising him away won't be easy. The Brazilian is under contract with Los Blancos until 2028 and is likely to cost a fat fee.

The LaLiga giants are preparing for a fresh start under Xabi Alonso, and could ask for a hefty fee to let Rodrygo go. Arsenal have previously signed Mesut Ozil and Martin Odegaard from Real Madrid.

Have Arsenal pipped Real Madrid to the services of Martin Zubimendi?

Arsenal have already secured the services of Real Madrid target Martin Zubimendi, according to acclaimed journalist David Ornstein. The Spanish midfielder has been linked with a move to the Emirates for a while, but recent reports suggested that Los Blancos were trying to hijack that deal.

The Gunners want to add a new controller in the middle of the park and have identified Zubimendi as an option. The 26-year-old has been outstanding for Real Sociedad over the years and is among the finest midfielders in LaLiga.

His efforts have also convinced Real Madrid, and recent reports stated that they are attempting to steal him from right under Arsenal's noses. However, Ornstein has now refuted those claims, stating that the player was not a target for Los Blancos. He has added that Zubimendi is likely to feature for the north London side in pre-season.

About the author

Deepungsu is a veteran football journalist who has been covering daily transfer roundups and news for over six years at Sportskeeda. He has written over 9000 articles for the website, and has garnered 20 million reads.

Deepungsu holds a PG degree in Microbiology and an MBA degree in Total Quality Management. He has an extensive two-decade long writing experience, which includes a decade of sports blogging. His writing prowess has even led his work getting cited on the legendary Franz Beckenbauer's Wikipedia page.

Inspired by Diego Maradona, Deepungsu played as an attacking midfielder for his local club at subdivision level in his initial years and scored an important goal or two. However, his all-time favorite footballer is Lionel Messi, and evidently, he feels Argentina's glory in 2022 is his favorite FIFA World Cup moment for fulfilling his long-standing dream. He is also an ardent East Bengal fan.

Deepungsu has been a Manchester United supporter since the year 2000. Unsurprisingly, his favorite manager is Sir Alex Ferguson and the Scotsman helped him get through some of the toughest days of his life. Like the fiery Scot, Deepungsu also leaves no stone unturned when it comes to accuracy in articles and only relies on credible sources.

Despite believing in Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland to create an iconic rivalry, Deepungsu reckons no one can match the longevity of Messi and Ronaldo. He spends his leisure time writing about life on his blog, reading books, and playing the guitar.

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Edited by Sankalp Srivastava