Former Arsenal midfielder Gilberto Silva has publicly advised his old club to reignite their pursuit of Real Madrid winger Rodrygo, after a potential summer move was abandoned.
Summer Interest and a Change of Plan
During the recent summer transfer window, Mikel Arteta identified the Brazilian international as a target to bolster his attacking options. The Gunners actively explored a deal for the Real Madrid player, but ultimately decided to sign Eberechi Eze from Crystal Palace instead. The England international has since made a positive start to his career at the Emirates Stadium.
Meanwhile, Rodrygo's situation in Spain has seen little improvement. Under new manager Xabi Alonso, the 24-year-old has been restricted to just three starts across all competitions this season, raising questions about his future at the Bernabéu.
Gilberto Silva's Expert Verdict
Speaking to talkSPORT, the Invincibles legend shared his thoughts on the potential transfer. "I know him and we've met a couple of times," Silva stated. "At the beginning of the season, I thought it would be fantastic to have Rodrygo at the club."
He acknowledged the intense competition for places at both clubs, but emphasised Rodrygo's quality. "It is clear he will not have much of an opportunity to play under Xabi Alonso at Madrid, but he's a great player with real talent, which is a waste if he is on the bench," Silva added.
The former Arsenal star was clear in his recommendation, pointing to the player's versatility. "He's got the ability to perform not only from the left side but in other positions across the forward line as well. Should Arsenal go in for him? Why not? If he's not happy and there is an opportunity to increase the strength of the squad, then we can try and get him."
Where Would Rodrygo Fit at Arsenal?
Silva did, however, pose a crucial question regarding the potential signing. He noted that the current Arsenal squad is significantly stronger than in previous years, making a starting spot hard to guarantee for any new arrival.
"The only question is, where would he fit?" he pondered. "Maybe a few years ago, it would have been much easier to find a good player to fit that Arsenal squad. However, nowadays, even if you are a good player, it's not so easy to find a starting place in this current team."
Rodrygo has been with Real Madrid since his €45 million move from Santos in 2019. To date, he has made 283 appearances for Los Blancos, scoring 68 goals. His most prolific season was 2022/23, when he found the net 19 times. His current contract with the Spanish giants runs until the summer of 2028.
