Real Madrid striker desperate to leave after falling behind Gonzalo Garcia in Xabi Alonso’s plans

Alvaro Rodriguez accepts he has to leave Real Madrid for the good of his career, although his long-term ambition remains to make it at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Rodriguez burst onto the scene in 2023 with a goal against Atletico Madrid in the derby but has struggled for first-team opportunities since.

He spent last season on loan at Getafe but only managed two goals in 22 appearances.

Club World Cup snub helps make up Rodriguez’s mind

The 20-year-old was also overlooked for the Club World Cup with new boss Xabi Alonso instead taking Gonzalo Garcia, who shone with a joint tournament-best four goals in the absence of the injured Kylian Mbappe.

And Rodriguez concedes it is now time to move on, telling Post United: “I’m 20 years old, I think I have to leave, I can’t wait much longer for the first team. 

“I will continue on my way with the aim of returning. My dream is to play for Real Madrid and I’m going to fight to get it, but for that I have to go out first. 

“I could have gone to the Club World Cup, but I understand that they gave Gonzalo the opportunity.”

Gonzalo García, shining on the world stage. 🌟

Top Goal Scorer Award presented by Bank of America pic.twitter.com/r44NHxMisn

— FIFA Club World Cup (@FIFACWC) July 15, 2025

Barcelona and Manchester United were interested in a young Rodriguez

Rodriguez came through the youth ranks at Girona before joining Madrid in 2020. 

He added: “When I signed for Madrid, teams like Espanyol and Barcelona wanted me . My mother told my agent that I would only go to Madrid, and they hadn’t called me yet. I think [Manchester] United also called about me . My manager even gave me an English dictionary.”

The striker claimed he suffered by being with the first team in the capital and preferred the intense training he received with Castilla, under then boss Raul.

“I was only with the first team and I was losing shape,” he said. “In the first team, you train much less than with Castilla. You can’t train much when you have almost three games a week. You have to do everything on your own. You can’t overwork players by training. 

“Raúl put more intensity on me and I was better physically.”

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