Arsenal handed Rodrygo transfer update as decision confirmed in Real Madrid statement

Rodrygo's return to Real Madrid for pre-season training has been confirmed by the Spanish club amid the lingering possibility of a transfer to Arsenal.

The Gunners have invested in their attack force this summer with acquisitions of Viktor Gyokeres, £63.7m from Sporting CP, plus Noni Madueke, who joined for £52m from rivals Chelsea.

Now with under a month to complete any further business, Mikel Arteta is still being linked with adding more firepower and creativity to a team hungry to win the Premier League.

As well as Crystal Palace's Eberechi Eze rating highly amongst targets, Rodrygo of Real Madrid is another of interest with a situation to keep an eye on in the coming weeks.

With answers to come, Los Blancos have confirmed their Brazil international's return on Monday, August 4, along with the rest of the squad beginning pre-season preparations for 2025/26.

Rodrygo was spotted in a video published on the Real Madrid website accompanied by a statement.

The article read: "Xabi Alonso's players underwent their medicals at the Hospital Blua Sanitas Valdebebas and Real Madrid City.

"Real Madrid's 2025-26 campaign has begun. Xabi Alonso's players all attended the Hospital Blua Sanitas Valdebebas and Real Madrid City this morning to undergo their medical check-ups. This evening from 6:00 pm CEST, the squad will complete their first pre-season training session at Real Madrid City."

Rodrygo was seen in the one minute, 11 second-long video undergoing tests but was not included in the 24 images published, which instead featured a number of his teammates.

Uncertainty over Rodrygo's future and the reason Arsenal have looked to stand a decent chance of getting an opportunity to complete a deal is because of his role in his current club's squad.

In the final months Carlo Ancelotti was Real manager in 2024/25, the 24-year-old was substituted at half-time in the Copa del Rey final defeat to bitter rivals Barcelona, then days later when they met in another El Clasico, this time one that would all-but decide the La Liga title race, Rodrygo did not feature from the bench.

The then sat out the final five matches of the season until Ancelotti departed and Alonso was named his replacement. There was a new opportunity to prove himself at the FIFA Club World Cup.

Promised a greater role by his new boss, the Gunners target ended up starting once and featuring twice as a substitute in six matches before Real were eliminated at the semi-final stage.

This explains the club's late start date for pre-season, with Real's new La Liga campaign due to begin on Tuesday, August 19.

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